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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICiVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


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D 


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D 


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dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
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symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


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reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  filmd  A  partir 
de  I'angle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
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1  2  3 


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11.  ;. 


^  :  v^    ..xv^lN    SOCIETY, 


ii8  ARCH  STREET. 


S(«,%.J.'-."^i-'-«"'""' 


I? 


n 


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MEMOIR 


OF  THE 


BEY.   C.  H.  0.   COTE,  M.  D. 


"m 


WITH 


<a  almnir  nf  ^,ts.  %  f .  «Btt, 


ANr»  A  HISTORY  Of 


THE  GRANDE  LIGNE  MISSION, 
CANADA  EAST. 


A- 


BY  THE   REV.  N.   CYR. 


-<<•»>" 


IJiHakliiliia : 

AMEEICAN  BAPTIST  PUBLICATION  SOCIETT, 


118  ARCH  STREEI. 


^.iUiiiiiiiiiiiirnii'^-^  - 


By: 
qSC9 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


The  Memoir  of  Dr.  Cote,  and  the  History  of  the  Grande 
Ligne  Mission,  were  both  prepared  by  the  Rev.  N.  Cyr  of  that 
Mission,  at  the  request  of  the  American  Baptist  Publication 
Society.  Several  additions  have  been  made  to  both,  by  the 
Editorial  Secretary,  for  which  Mr.  Cyr  is  not  responsible. 
They  will  be  found  chiefly  in  the  latter  part  of  the  two  works, 
particularly  in  the  concluding  reflections  of  the  Memoir,  and 
the  events  of  the  last  year  in  the  History  of  the  Mission, 
which  the  Society  was  anxious  to  have  brought  up  to  tho 
present  stage  of  its  prosperous  progress. 

No  Evangelical  Mission  of  modern  times,  it  appears  to  us 
has  been  from  the  beginning  to  the  present  moment,  more 
distinctly  marked  by  the  blessing  of  God,  hos  indeed 
boen  emphatically  a  "  work  of  faith  and  labor  >  '  3*'^ — carried 
V -t  with  "the  patience  of  hope  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  The 
little  grain  of  mustard  seed,  growing  rapidly  to  a  majestic 
tree,  with  hundreds  gathered  beneath  its  refreshing  shade, 
and  grateful  melody  on  all  its  boughs,  is  truly  its  fitting 
emblem.  When  we  see  a  feeble  woman,  and  she  a  widow— 
self-exiled  from  her  native  land, — opening  a  school  among  an 
ignorant  and  bigoted  population  in  a  small  garret — with  but 
one  friend  and  fellow-laborer  near  for  counsel  and  support — 
and  then  behold  the  glorious  results — we  seem  to  hear  a  voice 
saying  as  of  old,  "  Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  my 
Spirit,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts."  The  whole  history  is  full  of 
instruction — especially,  to  those  who  wish  to  do  good  to  a 
Roman  Catholic  population. 

For  the  Memoir  of  Mrs.  Cote,  the  Editorial  Secretary  is 
alone  responsible. 

J.  N.  B. 


1 


I 


L  (  170 


«•  * 


%  « 


i 


contents'. 


Memoir  of  Dr.  Cote. 

CHAPTER   I. 
Dr.  Cote's  Birth,  Education,  and  Political  Life, 

CHAPTER  11.    . 

Religious  Sentiments  before  Conversion, 

CHAPTER  III. 
Dr.  Cote's  Conversion. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Consistency.    Public  Profession  of  Religion, 

[  CHAPTER  V. 

His  Labors  at  Chazy,  and  his  Missionary  Ex- 
cursions,       .        . 

.     CHAPTER  VL 

Persecutions  at  St.  Pie.     . 

*  •  •  •    . 

•  «  .-  ,  •^.  ,» 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Sickness,  and  Voyage  to  the  South,  .        T        / 


PAOl 


11 


15 


22 


28 


33 


37 


4  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  Vlir. 

PAOI 

Ilis  Ordination.     Subsequent  Labors  at  St.  Pie. 
Interesting    Cases.      Visits    to    the    United 

States, 40 

CHAPTER  IX. 

His  Labors  at  St.  Mary,  near  Fort  George,       •  55 

CHAPTER  ^. 
His  Last  Illness,  and  Death,     .        •        •        .59 

CONCLUSION,    ...  64 

— •— 

Memoir  op  Mrs.  Cote,      •        •  75 
•  -                                      » 

History  of  the  Grande  Ligne  Mission,  93 

V  Section  L       .        .        .        .        ...  94 

II 99 

III 103 

r  :      .  IV 110 

V 113 

VI 115 

VII 119 

•   •      VIIL       .        .       .       .        .       .        .122 

IX.       .                «        •        •        •        .  A—O 

X. 130 

Conclusion, 133 

Appendix, 139 

•  5   • 


J&mim  of  Hfn.  C.  1.  (D.  Cote. 


MEMOIR. 


CHAPTER  I. 


DR.  COTE'S  BIRTH,  EDUCATION,  AND  POLITICAL 

LIFE. 

The  subject  of  this  memo'r  was  born  of  respect- 
able parents,  of  French  origin,  at  Quebec,  the  old 
capital  of  Lower  Canada,  in  the  year  1809.  His 
family,  three  years  after  his  birth,  removed  to 
Montreal,  where  their  son  was  brought  up  and 
educated.  After  having  passed  through  the  classes 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  College  of  that  city,  he 
devoted  himself  to  the  study  of  medicine.  He 
pursued  a  thorough  course  in  Canada  and  at  the 
Medical  School  of  the  University  of  Vermont, 
where  he  also  graduated,  and  entered,  in  1881,  on 
the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at  L* Acadia, 
about  ten  miles  distant  from  the  place  where  the 
Grande  Ligne  Mission  House  now  stands.  Napier- 
ville,  a  neighboring  village,  presenting  better 
advantages,  he  settled  there  two  years  after,  where 
he  resided  until  the  memorable  rebellion  of  1837. 

(7) 


8 


MEMOIR  OF  DR.   COTE. 


Dr.  Cote's  ancestral  family  was  one  of  those  that 
had  been  obliged  to  leave  Acadia  (now  Nova  Scotia,) 
in  1755,  after  having  been  shamefully  treated  by 
the  British  rulers,  and  no  doubt  he  often  heard 
them  relate  their  numerous  trials  and  severe  suffer- 
ings, and  it  is  very  likely  that  the  narrative  had 
some  influence  in  leading  him  to  the  course  he  took 
in  regard  to  the  English  government.  The  remem- 
brance of  the  past,  and  the  sight  of  present  wrongs 
done  to  his  fellow-countrymen,  inspired  him  with 
dislike,  not  to  say  hatred,  of  the  colonial  government. 
He  began  to  take  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  was 
elected  member  of  Parliament,  in  1834,  for  the 
county  of  Lacadie.  He  was  at  that  period  only 
twenty-four  years  of  age. 

Seeing  the  conduct  of  the  Romish  clergy,  and 
the  support  they  gave  to  the  government,  he  placed 
it  on  the  same  footing  with  the  latter,  and  resolved 
in  his  heart  to  do  his  utmost  to  rescue  his  fellow 
countrymen  from  their  ecclesiastical  as  well  as 
political  oppressors.  He  joined  the  patriot  party, 
at  the  head  of  which  was  the  well-known  Papineau, 
at  the  time,  the  Speaker  of  the  House. 

In  1837  the  political  agitation  became  more  and 
more  general.  Numerous  public  meetings  were 
held  during  the  summer,  in  which  the  Doctor  took 
a  very  active  part.  He  became  exceedingly  popular, 
and  was  considered  by  the  French  Canadians  as  ono 


MEMOIR  OF   DR.    COTE. 


9 


of  the  future  liberators  of  his  country.  Serious 
troubles  were  brought  about  in  the  autumn  by  this 
agitation,  but  the  field  of  the  principal  battles  was 
at  a  considerable  distance  from  Dr.  Cote's  residence, 
and  he  was  not  immediately  concerned  in  them. 
However,  such  was  his  ardor  in  the  cause,  that  ho 
by  his  conduct  and  the  bold  expression  of  his  sen- 
timents, had  very  decidedly  assumed,  in  common 
with  other  leaders,  the  responsibility  of  these  dis- 
turbances, and  he  was  consequently  obliged  to  flee 
for  his  life  into  the  United  States.  A  price  had 
been  set  on  his  head  by  the  Governor,  and  no  doubt 
he  would  have  been  severely  punished  had  he  been 
arrested. 

He  settled  at  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y.,  where  a  great 
many  of  the  Canadian  refugees  had  repaired. 
There,  still  possessed  of  the  same  great  principles, 
feelings,  and  resolutions,  he  interested  the  Ameri- 
cans in  favor  of  his  fellow  countrymen,  and  devised 
plans  for  their  political  emancipation. 

In  the  beginning  of  1838,  an  attempt  was  made 
by  the  Canadians  residing  in  the  States  to  enter 
Canada  disciplined  and  equipped  as  an  army ;  but 
it  was  opposed  by  the  United  States  government,  and 
failed.  Dr.  Cote  was  the  principal  leader  of  this 
expedition. 

In  November  of  the  same  year,  the  insurrection 
broke  out  about  Napierville.     The  village,  and  an 


10 


MEMOIR  or  DR.    COTE. 


extensive  region  in  the  vicinity,  was  in  the  power 
of  the  "  patriots''  for  a  time.  Dr.  Cote  was  one  of 
the  commanders,  and  decidedly  the  most  active. 
After  two  battles,  in  which  he  showed  himself  a 
brave  and  able  general  officer,  the  revolutionists 
were  defeated,  but  there  were  sad  losses  of  life  on 
both  sides.  Those  who  happened  to  be  near  the 
frontier  were  able  to  flee  and  find  refuge  in  the 
United  States.     Dr.  Cote  was  one  of  the  number. 


vifS 


CHAPTER  II. 

KELIGIOUS  SENTIMENTS  BEFORE  CONVERSION. 

From  early  youth  Dr.  Cote  had  perceived  the 
true  nature  as  well  as  the  sad  effects  of  the  corrupt 
religion  of  Rome,  and  he  had  some  time  before  this 
become  utterly  disgusted  with  it.  Among  other 
circumstances  which  served  to  open  his  eyes,  and 
weaken  his  hold  upon  Catholicism,  was  the  follow- 
ing. For  some  offence  he  had  been  ordered  by  his 
priest,  to  say  so  many  prayers.  In  order  to  save 
time  he  undertook  to  discharge  his  penance  while 
riding  on  horseback.  Suddenly  the  horse  started 
and  jumped  one  side.  The  movement  caused  Dr. 
Cote  to  drop  his  beads.  Naturally  of  a  quick  and 
irritable  temperament,  he  fell  to  swearing,  and 
cursed  horse,  beads,  priest,  and  all.  On  returning 
to  the  village,  he  went  to  the  priest,  and  confessed 
his  sin,  telling  him,  among  other  things,  that  he  had 
cursed  his  beads.  The  holy  man,  as  if  horror- 
stricken,  refused  him  absolution.  Full  of  terror, 
for  he  was  yet  held  fast  by  the  chains  of  supersti- 
tion, he   returned  to  his  home  and  consulted  his 

(11) 


12 


MEMOIR   OP   DR.    COTE. 


wife  as  to  what  was  best  to  be  done.  After  talking 
the  matter  over,  by  her  advice  he  concluded  to  go 
to  another  priest  in  a  neighbouring  village,  saying 
at  the  same  time,  if  the  "  old  fool,''  as  he  called  his 
own  confessor,  would  not  absolve  him,  his  neigh- 
bor, he  thought,  would.  He  hastened  away  to  the 
ghostly  father,  told  him  all  his  sin,  and  even  went 
so  far  as  to  confess  that  he  had  called  his  own 
priest  an  "  old  fool."  Whether  the  good  man  was 
most  affected  by  the  sorrow  of  the  penitent,  or  the 
absolution  fee,  we  are  not  informed.  He  absolved 
him,  however,  thus  showing  that  all  the  priests  of 
Home  are  not  agreed  as  to  what  are  and  what  are 
not  venial  offences. 

Still,  like  thousands  of  others  in  this  country  and 
Europe,  he  retained  his  outward  connection  with  the 
Romish  church.  But  at  this  time  he  began  to  hate  it, 
for  he  saw  in  it  a  system  of  apparent  piety  which  was 
really  one  of  arrogant  hypocrisy,  of  subtle  cunning, 
or  of  bloody  violence,  according  to  circumstances. 
He  deplored  the  influence  of  the  clergy  on  his  fellow 
countrymen,  and  could  not  think  that  a  religion, 
whose  ministers  keep  their  people  in  ignorance, 
superstition,  and  abject  misery,  had  emanated  from 
God.  He  conceived  of  religion  as  a  noble  system, 
destined  to  enlighten  and  elevate  the  people ;  but  he 
found  just  the  reverse  in  Popery.  And  as  a  natural 
consequence  of  confounding  the  religion  of  the 


ll 


MEMOIR   OF   DR.    COTE. 


13 


he 


Gospel  with  that  of  the  Pope,  he  w<as  led  to  Infi- 
delity; hoping  to  find  in  Deism  the  light  he  was 
seeking,  to  enable  him  to  worship  and  serve  God 
aright.  Desirous  of  being  enlightened  on  the  sub- 
ject of  religion,  he  commenced  a  correspondence 
with  distinguished  Deists,  and  read  their  works ;  by 
which  almost  fatal  step  he  was  more  and  more  con- 
firmed in  their  pernicious  errors.  He  went  but 
seldom  io  the  Romish  church,  and  spoke  out 
frequently  and  fearlessly  against  the  priests,  whom 
he  greatly  despised.  The  priest  of  Napierville, 
ofiended  at  his  bold  course  of  conduct,  and  at  his 
not  submitting  to  the  re(][uirements  of  "moiher 
church,'^  preached  against  him  in  such  a  manner 
that  Dr.  Cote,  who  was  not  more  enduring  than 
submissive,  thought  best  to  prosecute  him.  A 
lengthy  and  expensive  law-suit  ensued,  which  ter- 
minated, however,  as  in  the  recent  case  of  Dr. 
Achilli  and  Dr.  Newman,  to  the  confusion  and  cost 
of  the  priest. 

We  must  not,  however,  conclude  from  the 
foregoing  facts,  that  Dr.  Cote  was  a  decided  enemy 
of  the  Christian  religion.  Indeed,  he  knew  little 
of  real  Christianity.  He  was  willing,  and  in 
some  good  degree  anxious,  to  listen  to  the  truth, 
in  order  to  be  able  to  examine  and  judge  it  under- 
standingly.  It  is  worthy  of  notice  here,  that  when 
Mr.   Roussy,   the  first  of  our  missionaries  that 


14 


MEMOIR  OF  DR.   COTE. 


labored  among  the  French  Canadians,  came  and 
preached  at  Napierville,  in  1836,  Dr.  Cote  went  to 
hear  him,  and  even  paid  him  a  visit  at  the  house 
where  he  was  stopping.  This  was  certainly  show- 
ing a  spirit  of  inquiry,  and  more  willingness  to 
become  acquainted  with  the  Gospel,  than  is  gene- 
rally met  with  in  this  country.  But  he  was  still 
far  from  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  far  from 
God. 


md 
I  to 
luse 

lOW- 

to 

3ne- 
still 
rom 


CHAPTER  III. 

DR.  COTE'S  CONVERSION.* 

It  waa  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  1841,  that  the 
Lord,  who  had  preserved  his  life  in  the  midst  of 
battle  and  perils  of  almost  every  kind,  drew  him  to 
himself  with  the  cords  of  love  and  the  bands  of  a 
man.     A  thorn  had  been  planted  in  his  soul.     Dr. 
Cote  was  wretched ;  he  carried  every  where  a  heart 
void  of  hope  and  very  unhappy,  a  prey  to  great 
internal  anguish.     His  chequered  Lfe,  blasted  by 
his  misfortunes,  appeared  to  him  suspended  on  a 
few  threads,  whose  frailty  filled  him  with  apprehen- 
sions.    Death  was  to  him  the  king  of  terrors.     In 
the  midst  of  his  sufferings  he  felt  the  need  of  con- 
solations, but  knew  not  where  to  find  them.     lie 
gradually  discovered  the  insufficiency  of  his  system 
(Deism)  to  impart  peace,  happiness,  and  the  power 
of  resisting  temptation.     He  asked  nothing  of  a 
religion  which  appeared  to  him  only  an  arm  of  the 
civil  magistrate  to  restrain  the  people,  or  at  least 

*  This  chapter  is  taken  from  Mr.  Roussy's  correspondence 
with  the  Evangelical  Society  of  New  York  in  1841. 

(15) 


16 


MEMOIR  or  DR.   COTE. 


Ih 


an  insupportable  yoke,  and  which  was  utterly  inade- 
quate to  their  wants.  He  becan-e  more  and  more 
unhappy.  Not  knowing  what  to  do  to  fill  up  the 
frightful  void  of  his  heart,  he  sometimes  attended 
the  meetings  for  prayer  in  the  church  at  Swanton, 
where  he  then  resided.  The  sincerity  and  spiritual 
life  which  he  there  witnessed  affected  him ;  it  dis- 
tilled like  the  dew-drops  upon  his  thirsty  heart. 
The  tranquillity,  the  peace,  which  he  discovered  in 
many,  made  him  sometimes  desire  to  be  as  one  of 
them. 

His  mental  sufferings  now  became  intolerable, 
and  convinced  that  his  system  of  philosophy  had 
deceived  him,  he  resolved  to  read  the  Bible,  of 
which,  alas  !  he  was  almost  totally  ignorant.  This 
he  did  in  order  to  study  our  religion  at  its  very 
fountain,  the  teachings  of  Jesus  Christ  and  his 
apostles.  Although  he  read  the  Bible  with  great 
prejudice,  yet  he  was  struck  with  the  divine  majesty 
which  is  enthroned  on  its  pages,  and  with  the  beauty 
of  its  instruction.  Although  it  spoke  to  him  with 
supreme  authority,  he  disputed  with  it ;  he  reasoned; 
he  compared  it  with  the  works  of  Deists ;  but  this 
divine  word,  mightie/  than  any  human  book,  sharper 
than  any  two-edged  sword,  pierced  his  heart;  his 
soul  was  astonished  at  its  searching  power;  he 
groaned  at  the  sight  of  himself;  violent  doubts 
arose  in  his  heart;    he  was  overwhelmed  with 


MEMOIR   OF   DR.    COTE. 


17 


very 
his 
•eat 
[jesty 
sauty 
with 
>ned5 
this 
|arper 
his 
he 
)ubts 
with 


0 

0 

3 


anguish  and  weeping.  He  experienced  one  of  tho 
most  subtle  attacks  of  the  natural  unbelief  of  tho 
heart  against  the  truth  ;  and  the  Wicked  One  who 
did  not  remain  inactive,  tempted  him  violently  to 
abandon  every  religious  thought.  He  even  passed 
entire  nights  in  this  horrible  anguish,  without  clos- 
ing his  eyes,  prostrate  on  the  fioor,  and  scarcely 
knowing  where  or  what  he  was.  In  those  moments 
he  asked  the  Lord,  in  the  .  ullness  of  his  heart,  to 
guide  him  in  the  way  of  truth.  He  read  the  Biblo 
more  assiduously ;  his  admiration  for  it  increased, 
and  other  books  were  regarded  with  more  indif- 
ference. His  mental  state  so  reacted  on  his  body, 
that  his  friends  perceived  it,  and  said  that  he  was 
becoming  crazy.  He  would  have  been  ashamed  to 
avow  the  cause  to  them ;  and  he  was  happy  to 
escape  the  importunity  of  their  questions,  by  accept- 
ing the  invitation  of  a  sick  friend  to  accompany 
him  to  a  watering-place,  where  he  could  give  him- 
self with  more  freedom  to  the  search  after  truth.' 
He  read  with  great  profit  a  history  of  the  Church 
by  Goodrich,  which  completed  his  conviction  of  the 
truth  of  Christianity.  His  friend,  not  being  a 
disciple  of  Jesus  Christ,  died  at  the  watering-place 
in  despair.  Dr.  Cote  would  fain  have  counselled 
and  consoled  him ;  but  he  knew  not  what  to  say  to 
him.  This  death  made  a  profound  impression  upon 
his  heart,  filling  him  with  solemn  terror. 

2* 


18 


MEMOIR  or  DR.    COTE. 


I 


*  i 


Sometime  afterwards,  he  heard  Mr.  "Williamson 
of  New  York,  preach  on  the  words,  ^^  Believe  in 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved." 
This  precious  truth  deeply  affected  his  heart  -"hich 
the  grace  of  God  had  prepared  like  the  ^  when 
it  receives  the  imprint  of  the  seal ;  it  was  a  ray  of 
light  that  gave  him  a  glimpse  of  the  only  means  of 
deliverance  and  salvation.  He  bowed  at  the  foot 
of  the  cross,  and  formed  in  his  heart  the  resolution 
to  be  a  Christian.  From  that  time  he  experienced 
g^eat  consolation,  and  avowed  his  new  convictions 
to  his  friends.  He  spoke  of  them  especially  to  the 
Canadians,  went  to  their  houses  to  read  the  Gospel 
to  them;  he  assembled  them  that  he  might  pray  for 
and  with  them,  and  he  earnestly  exhorted  them  to 
follow  the  teachings  of  the  Bible  and  to  serve  God 
more  faithfully. 

Although  his  heart  was  comforted,  it  was  not 
happy.  Jesus,  he  feared,  had  not  yet  said  to  him, 
*^  Thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee,  thy  faith  hath  saved 
thee ;  go  in  peace." 

"  He  was  convinced  of  what  he  yet  lacked,''  says 
Mr.  Roussy,  "  and  it  was  while  visiting  the  dear 
family  of  Brissette,  members  of  our  church.  The 
expression  of  peace  which  he  there  remarked,  greatly 
impressed  him ;  he  said  that  he  did  not  possess  it, 
and  he  knew  not  how  to  obtain  it.     Our  friends 


Kii 


MEMOIR  OF   DR.    COTE. 


19 


says 

dear 

The 

^eatly 

;ss  it, 

fiends 


persuaded  him  to  write  to  me,  assuring  liim  that  I 
wouUl  do  him  good.  He  consented,  and  immediately 
wrote,  entreating  mo  to  come  and  see  him.  I 
received  the  letter  and  started  immediately.  I 
found  him  waiting  for  me.  He  related  to  me  the 
change  in  his  convictions,  but  I  immediately  per- 
ceived that  he  had  not  felt  the  efficacy  of  regene- 
rating grace,  nor  sufficiently  comprehended  the 
defilement  and  condemnation  of  sin,  nor  the  ;;'leni- 
tude  of  the  love  and  power  of  the  expiatory  sacrifice 
of  Christ,  imputed  to  him  through  faith.  Yet  I 
blessed  God  from  the  bottom  of  my  soul  for  this 
work  of  his  grace,  which  had  overthrown  and 
removed  so  many  obstacles,  and  which  was  about  to 
glorify  itself  in  him.  On  Sunday  I  preached  twice 
to  fifty  Canadians.  .  .  .  The  rest  of  the  day  I  passed 
with  Dr.  Cote  in  visiting  some  of  them.  It  was  a 
day  of  great  conflicts  for  him  ;  the  tempter  excited 
in  him  all  kinds  of  doubts,  showed  him  the  advan- 
tages of  the  world  and  its  glory,  and  sought  to 
persuade  him  to  return  because  he  had  already  gone 
too  far ;  but  he  came  ofl"  conqueror  by  prayer,  and 
by  faith  in  the  realities  of  the  invisible  world.  In 
the  evening  of  that  day,  conversing  with  him  con- 
cerning the  state  of  sin  and  condemnation,  and  of 
the  only  means  of  salvation  given  him ;  suddenly 
my  friend  burst  into  tears,   exclaiming,  with  the 


20 


MEMOIR  OP  DR.    COTE. 


accent  of  a  profound  conviction,  *'  Oh  I  what  an 
abominable  sinner  I  am  in  the  eyes  of  God  I  my 
past  life  fills  me  with  insupportable  anguish  I  what 
shiiU  I  do?''  Instantly  wo  prostrated  ourselves 
before  God,  and  poured  out  our  hearts  alternately 
in  fervent  prayers  to  obtain  pardon  and  deliverance 
from  Him.  I  do  not  remember  ever  to  have  seen 
a  man  weep  over  his  sins  with  so  deep  anguish,  as 
did  Dr.  Cote  that  night.  The  morning,  which  found 
us  still  on  our  knees,  told  us  to  our  surprise  that  the 
night  was  passed.  In  rising,  Dr.  Cote  was  calm 
and  peaceful.  At  noon  he  was  again  seized  with 
the  same  distress.  We  again  passed  many  hours 
on  our  knees,  in  which  we  were  abundantly  blessed. 
We  felt  that  we  were  on  the  steps  of  the  throne  of 
grace,  and  with  the  bcMness  which  faith  inspires  I 
exclaimed,  *I  will  not  let  thee  go  till  thou  hast 
blessed  me,  until  thou  hast  said  to  the  soul  of  my 
friend,  I  am  thy  deliverance.'  Then  Dr.  Cote, 
filled  with  the  spirit  of  adoption,  exclaimed,  ^  Glory 
to  God  in  the  highest,  peace  on  earth,  good  will  to 
men,'  and  with  fervent  praises,  rendered  thanks  to 
God,  that  he,  a  miserable  and  abominable  sinner, 
was  accepted,  saved  in  his  well-beloved  Son,  and 
filled  with  the  peace  of  Jesus.  We  wept  together, 
but  ours  were  tears  of  gratitude,  of  happiness,  and 
of  love.     All  was  solemn  around  us ;  the  blessing 


P! 


Ji^l 


ME:<I0IR   op   PR.    COTE. 


21 


of  our  God  was  descending;  our  cup  was  filled. 
Oh!  blessed  moment,  to  all  eternity,  blessed! 
Although  several  months  have  passed  since  this 
liappy  period,  these  sentiments  are  still  vivid  in 
my  heart;  I  cannot  write  to  you  the  description  of 
them  without  weeping.'' 


H 


i'< 


4 1 


CHAPTER  lY. 

CONSISTENCY.  PUBLIC  PROFESSION  OF  RELIGION. 

Any  one  reading  the  foregoing  chapter,  cannot 
entertain  a  single  doubt  in  regard  to  the  reality  of 
Dr.  Cote's  conversion ;  it  bears  the  stamp  of  God 
himself.  We  there  see  a  man  naturally  proud  and 
haughty,  a  professed  Infidel,  brought  under  the 
influence  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  made  sensible  of  the 
everlasting  interests  of  his  soul,  and  bowed  down 
to  the  foot  of  the  cross,  where  he  finds  peace  and 
happiness  in  believing,  after  having  passed  through 
those  great  struggles  which  sometimes  characterise 
the  new  birth.  Had  he  died  then,  we  should  have 
felt  confident  that  his  soul  would  have  been  received 
into  Abraham's  bosom,  though  we  had  seen  no 
other  proof  of  his  change  of  heart.  But  the  Lord 
granted  him  a  few  years  of  life,  in  order  that  he 
might  show  forth  the  praises  of  Him  who  had  called 
him  from  nature's  darkness  into  His  marvellous 
light.  And  we  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him, 
from  this  time,  engaged  in  spreading  the  knowledge 
of  the  blessed  Eedeemer  among  his  benighted 
(22) 


MEMOIR   OF  DR.    COTE. 


23 


[GION. 

cannot 
lity  of 
)f  God 
ad  and 
er  the 
I  of  the 
.  down 
ce  and 
brongh 
.cterise 
d  have 
ceived 
jen  no 
Lord 
bat  he 
called 
ellous 
g  liim, 
ledge 
lighted 


fellow-countrymen,  and  doing  a  vast  amount  of 
good  in  this  difficult  but  interesting  missionary 
field. 

One  of  the  prominent  features  of  Dr.  Cote's 
character  was  consistency,  and  hence  sprang  prose" 
lythm.  When  he  had  an  idea  he  wanted  to  impart 
it  immediately  to  others,  and  bring  them  to  hia 
Sentiments  and  views.  It  was  eminently  so  in 
regard  to  religion.  He  had  found  a  treasure  too 
precious  for  concealment ;  he  preached  the  truth  as 
soon  as  he  received  it,  and  sought  to  bring  souls  to 
the  Saviour,  in  whom  believing,  he  had  found 
peace. 

Mention  must  particularly  be  made  here  of  Mrs. 
Cote,  to  whom  he  hastened  to  announce  Jesus  and 
Him  crucified.  The  day  Mr.  Roussy  left  him  to 
return  to  Grande  Ligne,  the  Dr.  sent  to  her  a  Bible, 
and  wrote  to  her  in  Canada,  where  she  was  staying 
at  that  time,  a  remarkable  letter,  which  must  bo 
inserted  here  almost  in  full : — 

"  Swantonj  Ibth  June,  1841. 
My  dear,  my  tender  Love, — 

This  letter  will  be  handed  to  you  by  Mr,  Eoussy, 
whom  I  wish  you  to  consider  as  one  of  my  good 
friends;  as  a  special  consoler  that  God,  in  his 
divine  providence,  has  sent  me  to  relieve  me  from 
the  terrible  anguish  of  my  soul  in  consequence  of 


H 


24 


MEMOIR   OF  DR.    COTE. 


1. 


„  t. 

I  ,1    I 


I        ; 


i.|S 


(HI 


the  criminal  life  I  have  led  in  the  sight  of  God  and 
of  men.  0  my  dear  Marguerite,  you  cannot 
imagine  what  sweet  consolations  we  experience 
when  we  return  sincerely  to  Jesus,  the  Saviour  of 
miserable  sinners ;  when  we  weep  bitterly  over  the 
sins  of  our  life  at  the  foot  of  his  cross ;  when  we 
ask  him  for  pardon  with  a  true  and  boundless  con- 
fidence in  his  infinite  mercy ;  when  we  supplicate 
our  Heavenly  Father  to  forget  and  blot  out  our 
sins,  that  are  washed  away  in  the  precious  blood  of 
his  Son,  who  died  on  the  cross  to  save  us  all.  Oh ! 
my  dearly  beloved  friend,  how  unspeakably  sweet 
is  the  close  communion  with  our  Father  who  is  in 
heaven.  You  know  my  love  for  you,  and  for  the 
tender  fruits  of  our  union;  jou  know  there  are 
no  mortal  beings  so  dear  to  me  as  you  three.  Oh  ! 
I  would,  my  dear  friend,  that  your  soul,  which  is 
so  precious  to  me,  could  feel  all  the  sweet  emotions 
to  which  my  soul  has  attained,  since  I  have  been  so 
happy  as  to  return  unto  Him  whom  I  have  so  much 
offended  by  my  past  life.  How  I  desire,  my  dear 
Marguerite,  that  you  should  experience  all  the 
enjoyments  of  true  piety  enlightened  by  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ !  You  would  then  see  and  feel  that 
the  true  religion  of  Christ  does  not  consist  in  vain 
ceremonies  that  cannot  be  acceptable  to  God,  but 
that  it  consists  in  sincere  and  simple  faith  in  Jesus 
Christ,  whose  holy  Gospel  we  cannot  too  much  read. 


MEMOIR  OF   DR.    COTE. 


25 


1  and 

annot 

•ience 

lur  of 

BT  the 

jn  we 

s  con- 

Dlicate 

it  our 

Qod  of 

Oh! 

sweet 

0  is  in 

for  the 

TO  are 
Oh! 

lich  is 

lotions 

)een  so 
much 
y  dear 
ill   the 
dth  in 
el  that 
n  vain 
od,  but 
Jesus 
h  read. 


You  would  see,  my  sweet  friend,  thpt  true  religion 
does  not  consist  in  performing  certain  ceremonies 
and  in  prayers  unintelligibly  muttered,  but  that  it 
consists,  on  the  contrary,  in  the  peace  of  the  soiil, 
which  is  a  natural  consequence  of  implicit  faith  in 
the  merit  of  the  Saviour  of  men.  You  know  that 
when  I  abandoned  the  Romish  church  in  which  I 
was  born,  and  ever  since  then,  I  have  given  you 
the  most  ample  latitude  in  regard  to  liberty  of 
conscience.  Be  assured  that  I  will  never  offer  you 
any  violence  or  restraint  in  regard  to  your  religious 
convictions.  But  in  the  name  of  God  who  is  so 
merciful  towards  his  children — ^for  the  sake  of  your 
soul,  on  whose  eternal  happiness  and  misery  you 
should  reflect  seriously  in  this  short  life — for  the 
sake  of  the  sincere  peace  of  your  conscience — in  the 
name  of  what  is  most  sacred  in  this  world  and  in 
the  world  to  come,  open  your  eyes  and  reflect  sin- 
eerely.  Consult  the  book  of  Grod,  read  it  attentively, 
endeavor  to  appreciate  the  doctrines  there  taught 
by  the  Son  of  God  himself  in  person,  draw  the 
conclusions  in  the  sincerity  of  your  heart,  without 
prejudice,  after  having  supplicated  the  enlightening 
influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  after  having 
humbled  yourself  for  all  your  sins  at  the  feet  of 
the  Crucified.  See  then,  and  consider  whether  you 
are  in  the  way  of  life.  These  are  serious  reasons, 
and  such  as  should  touch  the  heart  of  a  Christian. 

3 


iS, 


26 


MEMOIR  OP   DR.    COTE. 


\  r^l 


n 


Remember  that  you  have  only  one  soul  to  save  or 
to  lose,  that  the  judgment  of  God  once  pronounced, 
there  will  be  no  more  way  open,  that  if  we  shut  our 
eyes  to  the  true  religion  in  this  world,  eternal  dam- 
nation must  necessarily  be  the  consequence.  We 
that  have  loved  each  other  so  much,  how  painful  it 
would  be,  my  Jarling,  to  be  separated  on  the  other 
side  of  the  grave !  Should  one  of  us  voluntarily 
shut  our  eyes  to  the  light  of  the  Gospel,  such,  alas, 
must  be  our  sad  experience.  Pray  then,  my  dear ; 
bow  down  at  the  feet  of  Christ  crucified ;  ask  Him 
for  mercy ;  entreat  the  Heavenly  Father  to  enlighten 
you  by  His  Holy  Spirit,  and  then,  my  dear  Mar- 
guerite, read  attentively  the  Word  of  God,  such  as 
it  is  contained  in  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  compare  the 
doctrine  there  taught,  with  that  you  have  learned 
from  your  infancy ;  above  all,  strip  yourself  of  all 
prejudices,  sacrifice  at  the  foot  of  the  cross  of  your 
Saviour,  and  seek  the  truth  with  all  the  sincerity 
of  a  heart  truly  desirous  of  knowing  it.  I  send 
you  by.  Mr.  Roussy  the  Bible  of  De  Maistre  de  Sacy, 
which  is  used  in  the  Eomish  church.  Oh !  read  it 
with  piety,  and  with  the  desire  of  being  instructed 
in  the  Word  of  God. 

Mr.  Koussy  will  give  you  an  account  of  all  the 
distress  and  anguish  which  I  have  passed  through 
since  I  have  known  the  religion  of  Christ ;  he  will 
tell  you  also  how  entire  is  my  confidenco  in  the 


MEMOIR   OF   DR.   COTE. 


27 


save  or 
lounced, 
shut  our 
nal  dam- 
ce.     We 
>ainf  ul  it 
:he  other 
luntarily 
ich,  alas, 
ny  dear; 
ask  Him 
mlighten 
3ar  Mar- 
,  such  as 
ipare  the 
learned 
blf  of  all 
of  your 
sincerity 
I   send 
de  Sacy, 
!  read  it 
istructed 


merits  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  how  much  peace  and 
tranquillity  of  soul  I  find  when  I  consider  that  one 
drop  of  His  divine  blood  was  sufficient  to  redeem 
all  the  sinners  who  apply  to  Him;  however  wicked 
they  were  before." 


t  all  the 

through 

;  he  will 

in  the 


IliT 


't^:-. 


**tl 


!  11 


nr'  * 


t  ! ; 


,1     1 

m 


'I 


CHAPTER  V. 

« 

HIS  LABORS  AT  CHAZY,  AND  HIS  MISSIONARY 

EXCURSIONS. 

Doctor  Cote  had  the  happiness,  after  a  few 
months,  of  seeing  his  dear  companion  turning  to 
the  Lord,  and  joining  him  in  his  missionary  labors 
among  the  French  population  at  Chazy,  N.  Y.,  a 
village  situated  about  eight  miles  from  the  Canada 
frontier.  There  regular  worship  was  established, 
which  soon  began  to  bear  fruit.  Among  the  con- 
verts during  his  residence  at  Chazy,  we  must 
mention  an  old  man  83  years  of  age,  one  of 
Washington's  soldiers.  "  After  an  abode  of  several 
days  with  me,''  says  Dr.  Cote,  "  he  returned  with 
the  peace  of  God  in  his  heart ;  trusting  solely  in 
the  merits  of  Christ,  whom  he  regarded  as  having 
accomplished  his  salvation  on  the  cross." 

In  the  autumn  of  1842,  the  Dr.  held  a  protracted 
meeting,  aided  by  Mr.  John  Sands,  then  a  student 
at  the  Grande  Ligne  Institute,  which  was  blessed 
to  the  conversion  of  some  Canadians  and  Americans. 
"We  then  commenced  a  protracted  meeting,"  he 
(28) 


m 


•* 

A 


MEMOIR  OF  DR.   COTE. 


29 


[ONART 

T  a  few 
urning  to 
ry  labors 
N.  Y.,  a 
3  Canada 
;ablished, 

the  con- 
^e   must 

one  of 
)f  several 
ned  with 
solely  in 
IS  having 

rotracted 
%  student 
3  blessed 
nericans. 
ting/'  he 


writes,  ''  which  continued  fifteen  days,  during  which 
time  we  had  the  plea  .ure  of  seeing  many  Canadians 
and  four  Americans  converted.  Menaces,  perse- 
cutions, promises,  flatteries,  and  the  most  absurd 
fictions  were  employed  by  the  priest  and  his  parti- 
zans  to  prevent  their  coming  to  hear  us.  But  God 
had  his  eyes  fixed  upon  our  dear  Canadians,  and 
will  triumph  over  the  arts  used  by  the  Wicked  One 
to  arrest  the  progress  of  the  light  amongst  this 
poor  and  unfortunate  people,  whom  he  has  long 
deceived.'' 

Whilst  at  Chazy,  Dr.  Cote  was  often  Culled  away 
to  Canada  to  announce  the  glad  news  of  salvation. 
At  first  he  came  somewhat  in  secret,  as  he  was 
afraid  the  government  might  have  him  arrested  for 
his  political  offences ;  but  when  the  general  amnesty 
was  proclaimed,  he  visited  Canada  oftener,  and 
finally  settled  there. 

One  of  his  most  successful  missionary  excursions 
W3S  the  one  he  made  to  Berea  in  the  township  of  Mil- 
ton, at  the  end  of  1 842 .  We  copy  the  following  account 
from  the  annual  statement  of  the  mission  furnished 
to  the  Evangelical  Society  by  Mr.  Roussy : — 

"In  our  last  report  we  informed  you  that  our 
friend.  Dr.  Cote,  was  on  the  eve  of  starting  for 
Milton,  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  the  dwellers  in 
those  woods,  whose  lives  were  very  profligate.  He 
was  accompanied  by  a  dear  brother  who  had  labored 

3* 


'.  Pi" 


t 


!  I 


I 


1     I 


! 


I  I 


80 


MEMOIR   OF  DR.    COTE. 


among  them  as  a  Colporteur  for  a  year  past,  with 
great  sreal  and  fidelity.  They  were  two  days  in 
reaching  the  school-house,  a  distance  which,  in  the 
winter,  can  be  walked  in  three  hours.  The  autumn 
rains  had  rendered  the  path  through  these  woods 
so  difficult,  that  nothing  but  the  zeal  of  our  breth- 
ren could  have  surmounted  the  obstacles  in  their 
way.  Though  exhausted  with  fatigue  on  their 
arrival,  they  made  no  delay  in  applying  themselves 
with  vigor  to  their  work.  After  kindling  a  fire, 
they  cut  down  a  tree  to  serve  at  once  for  a  table, 
and  seats  for  their  audience ;  put  up  a  temporary 
bed  in  one  corner  of  their  school-room ;  and  com- 
menced their  religious  services.  For  the  first  few 
days  there  were  no  visible  effects,  though  they 
held  two  meetings  daily.  All  the  people,  men, 
women,  and  even  small  children,  readily  assembled; 
no  one  remained  at  home.  The  intervals  between 
the  meetings  were  employed  in  reconciling  quar- 
rels }  for  these  families,  who  had  lived  in  continual 
strife  and  hatred  towards  each  other,  perceived  the 
necessity  of  first  harmonizing  their  differences,  in 
order  to  obtain  the  blessing  of  Heaven.  Our  dear 
brother  Cote,  who  performed  the  office  of  peace- 
maker, had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  them  acknowledge 
their  faults  one  to  another,  and  interchanging  the 
language  of  forgiveness.  On  Sunday,  each  one 
came  to  the  meeting  with  feelings  of  penitence,  and 


■m 


IL.. 


MEMOIR   OP  DR.    COTE. 


81 


ist,  with 
days  in 
1,  in  the 
autumn 
le  woods 
ir  breth- 
in  their 
)n  their 
jmselves 
y  a  fire, 
a  table, 

s 

mporary 

od  com- 

irst  few 

h   they 

e,  men, 

embled; 

between 

g  quar- 

ontinual 

ved  the 

^nces,  in 

)ur  dear 

peace- 

owledge 

ing  the 

ch   one 

ice,  and 


in  expectation  of  the  Divine  blessing.  The  exposi- 
tion of  the  Scriptures  was  listened  to  with  marked 
ip  fiolemnity ;  and  when  those  who  wished  were  invited 
to  speak,  a  female,  naturally  timid  and  retiring, 
rose  and  spoke  of  the  wants  of  her  soul,  of  the  love 
of  God,  and  of  the  duty  of  repentance,  with  such 
animation,  freedom,  and  energy,  that  each  one  grew 
pale  and  trembled.  After  addressing  them  in  most 
impressive  language,  she  fell  on  her  knees,  and, 
weeping,  poured  out  her  heart  in  fervent  prayer 
for  herself  and  all  present.  The  whole  assembly 
melted  into  tears,  and,  believing  that  she  spoke  and 
prayed  under  the  teachings  of  God's  Spirit,  bowed 
their  knees  and  successively  oflfered  their  earnest 
supplications  to  God  for  pardon 

"This  happy  Sabbath  was  the  commencement 
of  a  happy  week,  devoted  to  the  reading  of  the 
Word  of  God,  to  prayer,  and  to  praise.  No  one 
could  apply  himself  to  any  work,  for  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord  had  visited  these  cabins.  Every  day  some 
soul  was  relieved  of  the  burden  of  sin  by  trusting 
in  Christ.  Twenty-five  persons,  as  we  hope,  obtained 
pardon  and  peace  at  this  time,  making  with  the 
first  converts,  the  number  of  ^i(?e?i^y-?uwe  worshippers, 
and  followers  of  Christ  in  this  forest.'' 

On  his  way  home.  Dr.  Cote  stopped  ten  days  at 
St.  Pie,  where  he  held  meetings  daily,  which  were 
blessed  to  many  individuals. 


in, 


'I 


82 


MEMOIR  OF  DR.    COTE. 


i 


-  Soon  after,  the  houses  built  for  school  and  wor- 
ship at  St.  Pie  and  Berea  were  dedicated,  and  Dr. 
Cote  took  an  active  part  in  the  services  held  on  the 
occasion.  He  preached  several  times  and  produced, 
in  common  with  Rev.  L.  Normandeau  and  Rev.  L. 
Roussy,  a  very  good  impression.  At  evening 
service  at  St.  Pie,  in  which  all  present  were  invited 
to  speak,  fifteen  individuals  rose  successively  and 
professed  their  desire  to  serve  Christ  and  walk  in 
newness  of  life.  And  many  others,  who  afterwards 
joined  the  church,  referred  to  that  time  as  a  blessed 
season  for  their  souls. 

During  the  winter.  Dr.  Cote  made  frequent  visits 
at  St.  Pie  and  Berea,  and  his  labors  were  attended 
with  the  blessing  of  God.  He  had  a  discussion 
with  two  priests  in  the  presence  of  forty  Canadians, 
near  Bere^,  from  which  he  came  out  victorious, 
Laving  constrained  the  priests  to  acknowledge  they 
were  unable  to  defend  their  doctrines  from  the 
Bible,  because  they  had  never  studied  it  with 
attention  and  care. 


illL 


ad  wor-" 

'•*• 

iTid  Dr. 

on  tlio 

m 

oduced, 

^ 

Rev.  L. 

evening 

U  '' 

invited 

tIj  and 

walk  in 

erwards 

• 

L  blessed 

nt  visits 

ittended 

.1 

* 
■  ) 

scussion 

aadians, 

jtorious, 

9 

[ge  they 

•om   the 

it  with 

.1 


CHAPTER  VI. 

PERSECUTIONS  AT  ST.  PIE. 

During  the  summer  of  1843,  Dr.  Cote  visited 
occasionally  St.  Pie  and  Berea.  The  Roman 
Catholics  seeing  that  the  truth  was  gaining  ground, 
had  recourse  to  violent  persecutions,  their  usual 
arguments,  in  order  to  retard  its  progress.  But 
God  overruled  it  otherwise,  and  the  Christians  of 
that  place,  instead  of  being  shaken  in  their  faith, 
were  brought  oftener  to  the  closet  and  nearer 
their  Heavenly  Father,  feeling  that  He  is  a 
refuge  for  the  oppressed. 

These  persecutions  were  more  violent  than  any 
witnessed  before  in  Canada.  The  Roman  Catholics 
of  St.  Pie,  at  the  instigation  of  their  priest,  com- 
menced by  insultinp'  Dr.  Cote  and  Mr.  Roussy, 
who  were  holding  a  meeting  in  the  village.  They 
assembled  around  the  house  in  crowds,  and  began 
what  is  called  a  charivari  (a  horning),  making  a 
horrible  noise,  and  throwing  stones  at  the  Protest- 
ants.    This  state  of  things  continued  for  a  week. 

(33) 


Ml 


84 


MEMOIR   or   DR.    COTE. 


Seeing  tliey  did  not  succeed  in  driving  away  the 
Protestants,  they  determined  on  a  bolder  attempt. 
On  Monday,  the  4th  September,  (the  persecutions 
bad  commenced  the  27th  of  August,)  before  nine 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  rallying  cries  were  heard  in 
every  direction ;  the  Canadians  assembling  in  great 
numbers,  took  possession  of  the  village,  posted 
their  guards  at  different  points  to  prevent  flight,  or 
cut  off  assistance,  whilst  others  in  carts  drew  up 
before  the  houses  of  the  Protestants,  assailing  them 
with  stones  from  eleven  o'clock  until  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  breaking  the  doors  and  windows 
which  were  not  protected  by  strong  shutters." 
They  ordered  the  resident  Colporteur  to  leave  the 
village,  threatening  to  set  his  house  on  fire  if  he 
remained  after  a  certain  day.  A  Protestant  magis- 
trate was  then  called  to  investigate  the  case.  He 
was  with  the  Protestants  at  St.  Pie  on  the  day 
prescribed  ta  the  Colporteur  for  leaving  the  village, 
and  remained  over  night.  But  the  disturbances 
were  not  checked  by  his  presence.  On  that  same 
night  the  Romanists  commenced  their  charivari, 
insulted  the  Christians  and  blasphemed  God,  and 
finally  set  fire  to  the  house  of  one  of  the  converts. 
'^Our  affliction"  says  an  eye-witness,  "in  seeing 
this  house  in  flames,  was  aggravated  by  the  infernal 
joy  which   the   crowd  manifested   by   shouts   of 


H':— , 


MEMOIR   OF   DR.    COTE. 


35 


iway  the 

attempt. 

locutions 

fore  nine 

heard  in 

in  great 

,  posted 

3ight,  or 

Jrcw  up 

:ng  them 

3  o'clock 

windows 

luttcrs.^' 

cave  the 

re  if  he 

t  magis- 

50.     He 

the  day 

village, 

rbances 

it  same 

arivari, 

od,  and 

)nvcrts. 

seeing 

nfernal 

uts   of 


laughter  and  clapping  of  hands  at  seeing  the  bonfire 
which  was  made  of  a  dwelling  of  the  Protestants." 

In  such  trying  circumstances  the  converts,  and 
especially  Messrs.  lloussy  and  Cote,  asked  them- 
selves whether  it  was  not  their  duty,  like  Paul  in 
another  case,  to  appeal  to  the  protection  of  the  laws, 
and  show  the  intolerant  lloman  Catholics  that  they 
were  entitled  to  religious  liberty  as  well  as  them- 
selves. That  this  was  very  important,  any  one  can 
understand,  in  order  to  prevent  in  the  future  the 
renewal  of  such  outrages.  After  prayerful  con- 
sideration, it  was  decided  that  since  Providence 
had  placed  thcni  under  a  government  that  secures 
to  all  freedom  of  worship,  they  should  require  an 
enforcement  of  their  rights.  Hence  thirty  persons 
were  arrested,  the  most  of  whom  would  certainly 
have  been  sent  to  Montreal  jail,  had  not  Papal 
magistrates  interfered  and  succeeded  in  liberating 
them  under  bail. 

Dr.  Cote  was  very  active  and  very  useful  in  these 
circumstances.  His  knowledge  of  law,  and  his  firm- 
ness, enabled  him  to  plead  the  cause  of  religious 
freedom,  and  impress  the  Eoman  Catholics  with 
a  conviction  of  the  rights  granted  by  the  law  to  the 
Protestants  as  well  as  to  themselves. 

Very  soon  peace  and  tranquillity  were  restored; 
and  the  offenders  manifesting  feelings  of  repentance, 
it  was  thought  best  to  let  the  suit  drop — since  the 


IT 


iiii ' 


^  i 


■, 


III 


U\ 


m 

"Ml 


I  Hi' 
i 


S6 


MEMOIR  OP  DR.    COTE. 


desired  object  was  attained,  that  is,  to  cause  the 
Roman  Catholics  to  feel  that  persecutors  could  be 
lawfully  punished  in  this  country,  and  that  outrages 
against  the  Protestants  could  not  be  perpetrated 
with  impunity. 

It  had  a  very  good  eiffect.  The  Roman  Catholics 
saw  that  the  Protestants  were  not  animated  with 
bitter  feelings  towards  them,  and  had  not  been 
prompted  by  a  spirit  of  revenge.  They  were 
constrained  to  acknowledge  that  these  harmless 
Christians  had  returned  good  for  evil,  according  to 
the  precepts  of  the  Gospel,  evincing  the  same  mind 
that  was  in  Christ  Jesus. 

It  soon  providentially  happened  that  Dr.  Cote, 
who  immediately  settled  there,  was  called  in  his 
medical  capacity  to  visit  the  families  of  some  of  the 
persecutors.  He  went  willingly,  forgetting  the 
past,  and  doing  them  all  the  good  he  could.  Such 
conduct  was  well  calculated  to  make  a  good  impres- 
sion upon  their  minds,  and  we  have  reason  to  think 
it  was  blessed  lo  many. 


j^ 


I  ! 


Catholics 
ited  with 
Qot  been 
ley  were 
harmless 
)rding  to 
me  mind 

Dr.  Cote, 
id  in  his 
ne  of  the 
ting  the 
1.  Such 
i  impres- 
to  think 


CHAPTEE  yil. 

SICKNESS,  AND  VOYAGE  TO  THE  SOUTH. 

I31MEDIATELY  after  the  disturbances  related 
above,  Dr.  Cote  was  settled  at  St.  Pie  with  his 
family.  Before  that  time  the  station  had  only 
been  occasionally  visitod,  but  this  state  of  things 
could  not  continue  any  longer.  Dr.  Cote  was  the 
man  prepared  to  take  this  station.  He  entered  on 
his  labors  with  characteristic  ardor  and  energy. 
But  another  trial  awaited  the  mission  :  his  health 
began  to  fail,  and  however  anxious  he  was  to  pro- 
claim the  good  news  of  salvation  in  that  field,  he 
was  obliged  to  leave  it  and  seek  a  milder  climate. 
It  was  greatly  feared  that  he  was  consumptive,  and 
would  be  removed  by  death.  He  left  Canada  in 
the  month  of  March,  1844,  and  went  to  Savannah, 
Georgia,  after  having  spent  a  few  days  at  New  York. 

The  voyage  to  Savannah  was  beneficial  to  his 
health.  He  had  hardly  arrived  there  before  he 
began  to  experience  a  happy  change,  which  war- 
ranted the  hope  of  a  speedy  recovery.  In  a  letter 
dated  April  15th,  he  says :  *'  I  arrived  here  last 

*  (37) 


if 


in^' 


i 


I.I  ■ 


I' 


38 


MEMOIR  or  DR.    COTE 


Saturday,  after  a  very  happy  passage  of  nine  dayo> 

The  sea  has  only  done  me  good During 

the  passage  I  have  coughed  but  little,  and  only 
two  or  three  times  spit  up  blood.  I  am  less  troubled 
now  with  pains  in  my  breast/' 

In  his  sickness,  he  experienced  the  consolations 
of  religion,  and  though  absent  from  home,  and 
deprived  of  the  attention  and  care  of  his  beloved 
wife  and  friends,  he  enjoyed  that  peace  which 
passeth  all  understanding.  In  a  letter  to  Mr. 
Roussy  he  says :  '^  The  Christian  has  a  friend  to 
console  and  comfort  him  in  his  trials,  and  in  the 
midst  of  agitations  and  troubles  he. can  look  with 
confidence  to  God,  and  say  with  calmness  and 
resignation,  '  Let  thy  will  be  done,  and  not  mine.' " 
In  the  same  letter  he  earnestly  requests  the  prayers 
of  his  brethren  tha^  he  may  be  truly  resigned  to 
the  will  of  God. 

His  health  continuing  to  improve,  he  left  Savan- 
nah in  May,  and  arrived  again  at  St.  Pie  in  Canada, 
in  June.  He  resumed  his  labors  in  the  midst  of 
those  he  loved  so  much  in  Christ.  He  felt  very 
thankful  for  his  recovery,  in  regard  to  which  he 
said,  "  If  I  was  enabled  to  resign  myself  with  plea- 
sure to  the  will  of  my  Father,  who  seemed  to  say 
to  me  that  the  time  had  come  for  me  to  leave  this 
house  of  clay,  I  blessed  Ilim  too,  from  the  bottom 


MEMOIR   OF  DR.    COTE. 


39 


of  my  heart,  when  he  said  to  me,  '  Be  healed/  and 
when  he  gave  me  entire  liberty  in  bcarino-  the 
Word  of  Life  to  those  I  so  much  desired  to  rescue 
from  the  slavery  of  the  Man  of  Sin."  The  next 
chapter  will  show  that  he  did  not  labor  in  vain. 


i'->3 


-'  ^1 
f    1 


?'l 


!i 


t: 


!i! 


li  li 


CHAPTER  Vin. 

HIS  ORDINATION.      SUBSEQUENT  LABORS  AT   ST. 

PIE.    INTERESTING  CASES.     VISITS  TO  THE 

UNITED  STATES. 

Dr.  Cote  being  now  permanently  settled  at  St. 
Pie,  it  was  necessary  that  he  should  be  ordained. 
A  meeting  of  ministers  was  called,  and  on  the  28th 
of  August,  184:4,  he  was  solemnly  set  apart  by 
prayer  and  the  laying  on  of  hands,  to  the  work  of 
the  gospel  ministry.  H<j  was  ordained  over  tho 
church  which  had  chosen  him  for  their  pastor. 

He  was  so  successful  that  in  the  month  of  March 
of  the  following  year,  1845,  he  could  write  thus : 
"  Since  the  month  of  June  last,  thirty  have  joined 
the  church,  after  having  given  unequivocal  signs 
of  a  sincere  return  to  God,  and  of  having  received 
that  faith  in  their  hearts  which  gives  them  a  title 
to  being  the  children  of  Grod.'' 

"  The  Spirit  of  the  Most  High,"  he  continues, 
"  acted  with  so  much  power  upon  many  who  had 
not  yet  received  the  seal  of  adoption,  that  in  Decem- 
ber last,  I  thought  best  to  have,  every  afternoon  at 
four  o'clock,  a  prayer  meeting,  and  at  seven  o'clock 
(40) 


nu. 


MEMOIR   OF  DR.    COTE. 


41 


AT  ST. 
THE 


.  at  St. 
dained. 
le  28th 
)art  by 
<rork  of 
ver  the 
or. 

'  March 
}  thus : 
joined 
i  signs 
eceived 
a  title 

itinues, 
ho  had 
Decem- 
aoon  at 
o^clock 


the  Word  of  God  was  preached.  The  hand  of  the 
Lord  was  so  evidently  with  us,  tliat  the  church 
requested  that  these  meetings  should  be  kept  up 
for  a  fortnight ;  at  the  end  of  which  time  five  souls 
professed  publicly  that  they  had  passed  from  death 
unto  life,  and  that  their  hearts  rejoiced  in  that  joy 
which  none  can  take  away.'' 

In  1846,  he  wrote  again  to  Bev.  J.  M.  Cramp  as 
follows : —  ^ 

St.  Pie,  August  1,  1846 
Dear  Brother, 

Imploring  the  blessing  of  our  Heavenly  Father, 
I  hasten  to  comply  with  your  request,  by  writing 
a  few  words  respecting  the  good  things  which  the 
Lord,  in  his  infinite  mercy,  is  accomplishing  here, 
in  favor  of  a  people  peculiarly  dear  to  me.  Unite 
with  me  in  earnestly  supplicating  the  Author  of 
every  perfect  gift,  to  sbcd  his  benedictions  on  the 
plans  which  we  daily  foi  m  and  carry  into  execution, 
for  the  advancement  of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  in 
this  part  of  His  vineyard. 

If    I  were    required    to    detail    minutely   all 

that   has    been    done    here    since    I    transmitted 

my  last  Report,   I   must   confess   that   the   task 

would  be  too  difficult,  and  altogether  beyond  my 

strength.      I   shall   content    myself    with   giving 

you   a  general  view  of  the   blessings  which   the 

4.* 


4 


1i 


ll!! 

I: 


ijil^ 


"     I 


42 


MEMOIR  or  DR.    COTE. 


Lord  has  bestowed  upon  us  since  I  last  wrote  to 
you,  that  we  may  give  all  the  glory  to  Him  to  whom 
alone  it  is  due. 

CONVERSION  or  A  YOUNG  MAN. 

In  1841,  this  young  man  who  was  then  16  years 
of  age,  and  lived  in  this  parish,  went  to  spend  a 
few  days  in  the  adjoining  parish,  (St.  Cesair,)  in 
order  to  assist  at  a  protracted  meeting  which  the 
Jesuits  were  holding.  After  having  devoutly  at- 
tended the  masses  which  were  every  day  celebrated, 
and  heard  the  sermons  which  were  preached  during 
the  exercises,  the  young  man  presented  himself  at 
the  tribunal  of  confession,  that  he  might  be  deliv- 
ered from  the  burden  of  sin  which  heavily  pressed 
upon  his  soul.  He  had  confessed  but  a  few  times 
when  his  confessor  gave  him  absolution,  and  directed 
him  to  receive  the  eucharist.  He  was  astonished 
at  the  ease  with  which  sins  that  appeared  to  him 
so  heinous  were  pardoned.  He  endeavored  to 
persuade  the  priest  that  he  was  not  yet  sufficiently 
prepared  for  the  holy  ordinance,  but  he  was  unsuc- 
cessful ;  tl.3  priest  commanded  him  to  render  obedi- 
ence at  once.  He  returned  to  his  lodgings  very 
sorrowful,  yet  determined  not  to  expose  himself 
to  the  peril  of  committing  sacrilege,  as  he  consid- 
ered it,  in  receiving  the  communion  while  his  con- 
science was  so  oppressed  with  the  burden  of  his  sins. 


II!'; 
liJJ 

I'.H 

il: 


n^mm>sgm0mjmM9 


MEMOIR  OP  DR.    COTE. 


43 


wrote  to 
to  whom 


16  years 
spend  a 
3air,)  in 
lich  the 
)utly  at- 
ebrated, 
I  during 
nself  at 
)e  deliv- 
pressed 
w  times 
directed 
onished 
to  him 
Dred   to 
iciently 
unsuc- 
r  obedi- 
5s  very 
limself 
consid- 
lis  con- 
lis  sins. 


Next  day  he  went  again  to  confession,  when  the 
priest  sharply  reproved  him  for  his  disobedience, 
and  told  him  to  go  to  him  no  more  till  he  had 
yielded  submission.  Among  other  expressions  used 
hy  the  priest  on  that  occasion,  and  which  deeply 
impressed  his  mind,  were  these  words  : — "  Do  you 
think  that  I  design  to  damn  you  ?^^  Distressed  at 
finding  that  his  confessor  would  not  allow  him  to 
prostrate  himself  at  his  feet  any  more,  but  being 
still  unable  to  overcome  the  reluctance  and  fear 
which  prevented  him  from  communion  while  his 
conscience  was  oj^pressed  with  sin,  he  wept  abun- 
dantly, and  sorrowfully  took  the  road  that  led  to 
his  father's  house.  The  words  of  the  priest  were 
continually  sounding  in  his  ears, — "  Do  you  think 
that  I  design  to  damn  you?^^ — till  at  length  he 
became  satisfied  that  the  execution  of  the  implied 
threat  was  possible,  anJ  from  that  moment  he  re- 
solved to  learn  to  read,  that  he  might  be  able  to 
examine  the  book  ^whence  the  priests  derive  their 
knowledge  and  their  instructions,  that  he  might 
judge  for  himself,  whether  his  confessor  had  been 
faithful,  or  whether  he  himself  had  been  too  scru- 
pulous in  refusing  to  do  what  had  been  required 
of  him  About  the  same  time  he  learned  that  a 
person  Lad  arrived  at  St.  Pie,  who  gave  copies  of 
the  Gospel  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  all  who 
were  willing  to  accept  them.     He  found  means  to 


Ml 


1 7 


w\ 


iiiil': , 

'i 

iiiilii!! 


m 

I 


44 


MEMOIR  OP  DR.    COTE. 


procure  a  copy,  and,  by  the  assistance  of  a  little 
girl,  soon  made  such  progress  in  the  art  of  reading 
as  to  be  able  to  understand  what  he  read.  How 
great  was  his  surprise,  when  he  discovered,  by  the 
Sacred  Volume,  that  no  man  could  take  away  his 
sins,  and  that  the  'blood  of  Christ  only  can  wash 
and  cleanse  the  soul !  The  perusal  of  the  New 
Testament  was  a  new  era  in  his  life.  Meanwhile 
the  ftict  of  his  reading  the  book  was  known  to  no 
one  but  his  young  instructress,  who  faithfully  kept 
the  secret.  When  he  was  able  to  read  without 
assistance,  he  spent  whole  days  in  perusing  the 
Word  of  God.  Then  he  determined  in  his  heart  to 
separate  himself  from  the  Church  of  Rome,  which 
had  so  long  kept  him  in  ignorance  of  the  true  doc- 
trine of  free  salvation  by  Jesus  Christ. 

Soon  after,  he  left  the  paternal  roof,  to  seek  em- 
ployment elsewhere.  He  took  with  him  the  pre- 
cious volume  which  had  revealed  the  falsehoods  of 
Romanism.  The  more  he  read  the  Gospels,  the 
more  clearly  he  saw  the  absolute  necessity  of  con- 
version to  God,  yet  he  wished  it  to  be  delayed,  that 
he  might  not  be  exposed  to  the  persecutions  of  the 
world.  He  could  not  long  conceal  the  state  of  his 
mind,  and  then,  in  order  to  escape  the  mockmgs 
and  insults  of  his  young  companions,  he  imitated 
the  example  of  Peter,  who,  at  the  sight  of  a  ser- 
vant maid,  swore  that  he  knew  not  his  Master. 


I 


nil  iiwi 


>is>: 


MEMOIR   OF  DR.    COTE. 


45 


f  a  little 
*  reading 
i.  How 
1,  by  the 
away  his 

an  wash 
the  New 
eanwhile 
vn  to  no 

lly  kept 

without 
sing  the 

heart  to 
J,  which 
:rue  doc- 
geek  em- 
the  pre- 
loocls  of 
)eLs,  the 

of  con- 
ed, that 
J  of  the 
e  of  his 
lockings 
imitated 
f  a  ser- 
Master. 


From  that  time  he  became  more  worldly  than  ever, 
although  his  conscience  continually  reproached  him 
as  a  traitor  to  his  God.  He  continued  three  long 
years  in  this  deploralie  condition,  struggling  against 
his  conscience  and  against  the  word  of  God,  which 
conliuually  warned  him  that  he  was  deficient  in  his 
duty,  both  towards  God  and  towards  his  own  soul. 
Sometimes  he  seemed  to  show  signs  of  penitence, 
but  generally  he  afiected  complete  unbelief,  and  he 
lived  in  open  sin. 

Last  autumn  a  bishop  of  the  Romish  Church 
visited  the  place  where  he  lived,  for  the  purpose  of 
consecrating  a  new  church.  He  hastened  to  the 
spot,  *^^at  he  might  converse  with  him  on  the  Bible, 
and  ascertain  whether  he  could  maintain  his  senti- 
ments by  the  authority  of  the  word  of  God.  He 
was  convinced  in  a  few  moments  that  the  bishop 
was  not  better  acquainted  with  the  Bible  than  any 
priest,  and  to  all  his  questions  concerning  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Christian  religion,  he  received  only 
vague  and  evasive  replies,  sometimes  contradictory, 
and  frequently  accompr  ied  by  contemptuous  and 
insulting  language.  He  returned  home,  more  fully 
persuaded  than  ever  that  Romanism  cannot  stand 
before  the  light  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus,  but  at  the 
same  time  more  determined  than  ever  not  to  be 
converted  to  God.  He  continued  several  days  in 
that  state  of  impenitence  and  hardness  of  heart, 


% 


J       ^1 


1   1 

t 

i  : 
il: 

,  1 

1 
'  1  < 

'H 

1 

1 

;  i 
j  \ 

] 

1  i 

1  :  r 

i 

1(1'' 

1;^^ 

46 


MEMOIR   OF   DR.    COTE. 


wlierij  being  one  day  engaged  in  the  forest,  cutting 
wood,  with  a  very  heavy  axe,  his  foot  suddenly 
slipped,  and  the  axe  violently  struck  his  leg,  just 
at  the  knee-joint.  The  loss  of  blood  was  so  great 
that  he  fainted,  and  was  conveyed  to  his  lodging 
in  an  insensible  state.  As  no  surgical  assistance 
could  be  obtained,  those  about  him  made  use  of 
some  very  powerful  remedies,  and  succeeded  in 
stopping  the  flow  of  blood,  but  the  effect  was  a  vio- 
lent inflammation,  which  threatened  to  produce 
mortifiv  ation,  not  only  of  the  leg,  but  also  of  the 
thigh.  In  this  sad  condition  his  friends  brought 
him  to  my  ho'^ise,  which  is  about  three  leagues 
from  the  place  where  he  received  the  hurt.  I  was 
not  at  home  at  the  time,  but  Mrs.  Cote,  perceiving 
the  frightful  condition  in  which  the  young  man 
was,  would  not  allow  him  to  be  taken  back.  She 
prepared  a  room  for  him,  applied  soothing  poultices 
to  the  wound,  and  the  result  was,  that  when  I 
returned  home,  on  the  second  day,  I  found  that 
God  had  blessed  the  application  of  these  simple 
remedies.  In  a  few  days  the  patient  was  out  of 
danger,  though  the  size  and  depth  of  the  wound 
precluded  the  h<  pe  of  a  speedy  cure. 

It  was  necessary  that  he  should  reside  some  time 
with  us.  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  converse  with  him 
on  the  state  of  his  soul.  I  pointed  out  to  him  the 
goodness  of  the  Lord,  in  chastising  as  a  father, 


MEMOIR  OF  DR.    COTE. 


47 


,  cutting 
suddenly 
leg,  just 
so  great 
lodging 
ssistance 
use  of 
eded   in 
as  a  vio- 
produce 
)  of  the 
brought 
leagues 
I  was 
rceiving 
Dg  man 
k.     She 
loultices 
when  I 
nd  that 
simple 
out  of 
wound 

ae  time 
th  him 
lim  the 
father, 


instead  of  smiting  him  to  death.  I  urged  him  to 
consider  seriously  his  obstinacy  in  refusing  to  submit 
to  llim  who  had  so  often  knocked  at  the  door  of 
his  heart,  and  entreated  him  to  delay  no  longer, 
nor  to  continue  to  resist  the  grace  of  God.  A 
fearful  struggle  followed.  At  length,  having  been 
led  to  confess  and  deplore  the  wickedness  of  his  past 
life,  and  to  shed  many  tears  of  repentance,  he  ex- 
perienced reconciliation  with  God  through  the  Lord 
Jesus  C  irist.  Having  found  peace,  he  became 
joyful  and  happy,  and  was  enabled  to  thank  God 
for  having  chastened  him  in  fatherly  tenderness. 
He  remained  with  me  till  his  cure  was  completed, 
and  then  rc^'irned  home.  Shortly  afterwards  he 
came  back,  and  earnestly  requested  me  to  take  him 
again  into  my  house,  that  he  might  be  more  per- 
fectly instructed  in  the  way  of  the  Lord.  lie  soon 
informed  me  of  his  desire  to  become  a  Colporteur, 
that  he  might  advance  the  Kingdom  of  the  Saviour 
among  his  fellow-countrymen.  Having  sought 
divine  direction  in  the  affair,  I  complied  with  his 
request.  He  remained  a  few  months  at  my  house, 
and  then  went  to  the  Mission  House  at  Grand 
Ligne,  where  he  is  now  under  preparation  for  the 
work  in  which  he  is  hereafter  to  be  engaged.  He 
continues  to  give  proof  of  sincere  piety,  and  genuine 
devotedness  to  the  cause  of  his  Master.^' 


48 


MEMOIR  OF  DR.    COTE. 


I 


After  relating  two  other  interesting  conversions 
Dr.  Cote  goes  on  to  say : — 

"  While  our  Heavenly  Father  has  been  pleased,  in 
his  great  compassion,  to  increase  and  multiply  our 
little  flock.  He  has  also  seen  fit,  in  his  infinite  wis- 
dom, to  take  from  us  a  brother  whom  we  all  highly 
esteemed,  and  who  was  the  first  at  St.  Pie  to 
receive  the  light  of  the  Word  of  God.  Those  of 
your  readers  who  arc  acquainted  with  the  history 
of  the  religious  awakening  at  St.  Pie,  in  1841,  will 
doubtless  remember  that  at  that  time,  by  means  of 
a  Bible  which  his  father  had  left  him  at  his  death, 
Jean  Baptiste  Auger  began  to  discover  the  errors 
of  the  Church  of  Home,  and  the  truth  of  Chris- 
tianity. From  the  moment  of  his  conversion  till 
his  death,  which  took  place  on  the  25th  of  March 
last,  he  m'^'ntained  an  undeviating  consistency. 
He  was  always  the  stern  enemy  of  error,  and  the 
zealous  advocate  of  the  cause  of  his  Divine  Master, 
The  week  before  that  in  which  he  died,  I  conversed 
with  him  very  seriously  on  the  state  of  his  health, 
and  felt  it  my  duty,  as  a  medical  man,  to  tell  him 
that  I  feared  he  could  not  long  withstand  the 
attacks  of  a  disorder  which  was  undermining  his 
strength,  and  appeared  likely  to  issue  in  con- 
sumption. I  was  then  very  far  from  expecting 
that  within  eight  days  I  should  be  called  to  commit 
to  the  earth  the  mortal  remains  of  that  beloved 


MEMOIR  OF   DR.    COTE. 


49 


\Trsion3 

cased, in 
iply  our 
lite  wis- 
1  highly 

V'lQ   to 
'hose  of 

history 
41,  will 
leans  of 
s  death, 
le  errors 
f  Chris, 
•sion  till 
■  March 
listency. 
and  the 
Master, 
nversed 

• 

health, 
iell  him 
md  the 
ing  his 
n  con- 
pecting 
commit 
beloved 


brother.  The  day  after  our  conversation  I  was 
confined  to  my  bed  by  sickness,  and  brother  Auger 
was  also  in  the  same  state.  Two  days  after,  a 
messenger  came  to  me  in  the  night,  to  tell  me  that 
he  was  alarmingly  ill,  and  the  next  day  at  noon  I 
left  my  bed,  though  with  difficulty,  to  visit  him. 
I  found  that  he  was  very  near  death.  lie  asked 
my  opinion  of  his  state.  I  could  not  conceal  from 
him  the  truth,  and  therefore  told  him  that  he  must 
prepare  to  meet  God  in  a  very  short  time.  Ho 
began  immediately  to  sing  a  hymn  of  praise,  and 
then  requested  me  to  pray.  Then  he  proceeded, 
with  the  utmost  calmness,*  to  arrange  his  temporal 
affairs,  continually  praisiT\^  and  blessing  God  that, 
after  having  given  him  full  opportunity  to  make 
sure  his  calling  and  election  in  Jesus  Christ,  he 
was  now  pleased,  in  great  mercy,  to  call  him  to 
himself.  From  that  time  till  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred about  thirty-six  hours  after  my  first  visit, 
his  whole  time  was  employed,  as  far  as  extreme 
suffering  would  permit,  in  singing  hymns,  praying, 
and  exhorting  those  who  were  around  his  bed.  He 
besought  Christians  to  persevere  in  the  faith,  and 
the  unconverted  to  repent  and  commit  themselves 
to  Jesus.  He  asked  for  one  of  his  old  friends  who 
knew  the  Gospel,  but  who  still  continued  in  sin, 
through  fear  of  the  world ;  and  admonished  him  to 
turn  to  the  Lord,  to  burst  the  bonds  which  confined! 


il 


i 


■■11 


60 


MEMOIR   OF  DR.    COTE. 


him,  and  to  embrace  the  salvation  offered  in  the 
Gospel.  He  sent  for  one  who  had  denied  the  faith, 
but  he  did  not  arrive  in  time  to  receive  from  the 
lips  of  the  dying  man  the  counsels  which  he  had 
intended  to  give,  if  God  had  permitted  him.  Hav- 
ing told  me,  however,  what  he  had  purposed  to  say, 
I  repeated  to  the  fallen  brjther  the  solemn  admoni- 
tions which  his  dying  friend  had  charged  me  to 
give.  They  produced  the  desired  effect.  The  back- 
slider confessed  his  fault,  abandoned  his  errors  and 
his  evil  ways,  and,  to  all  appearances,  affords  now 
good  proof  of  a  Christian  life. 

Perceiving  one  of  his  friends  in  tears,  he  ad- 
dressed him  in  the  following  manner : — "  If  your 
friend  was  about  to  receive  a  large  inheritance, 
would  you  weep  over  his  fate  V^  The  other  having 
answered  in  the  negative, — "Well,''  he  replied, 
"  that  is  my  position ;  in  a  few  hours  I  shall  have 
heaven  for  my  inheritance ;  therefore  shed  no  more 
tears  on  my  account."  Towards  midnight  he  asked 
me  how  long  he  might  yet  live:  '"hardly  three 
hours,"  I  replied, — "  by  that  time  all  will  be  over 
with  you  here  below."  As  the  end  of  the  three 
hours  drew  nigh  he  felt  that  death  was  at  hand. 
Sitting  up  in  his  bed,  and  joining  his  hands  to- 
gether, he  began  to  repeat  the  Lord's  prayer,  with 
a  loud  voice  :  but  when  he  came  to  the  words, 
"  Forgive  us  our  offences,"  his  voice  failed  him, 


,u»^« 


MEMOIR   OF   DR.    COTE. 


51 


and  he  was  obliged  to  lay  his  head  on  the  pillow 
and  finish  the  prayer  in  a  lower  tone.  Then,  hav- 
ini:  hidden  farewell  to  those  who  surrounded  the 
bed,  by  an  impressive  motion  of  his  hand,  he  was 
heard  to  exclaim,  in  a  low  whisper,  "  Come  Jesus, 
come,'' — and  immediately  expired,  without  pain. 

His  funeral  was  attended  by  an  immense  con- 
course of  people,  among  whom  was  a  large  number 
of  Romanists,  who  came  to  pay  that  tribute  of 
respect  which  his  irreproachable  conduct  had  ever 
secured.  We  have  reason  to  hope  that  we  shall 
ere  long  see  the  fruit  of  the  good  seed  scattered 
abroad  by  our  friend,  both  during  his  eminently 
Christian  life,  and  during  the  short  period  of  his 
sickness. 

Since  my  last  Report,  twelve  new  members  have 
been  added  to  the  Church  at  St.  Pie  on  a  public 
profession  of  their  faith,  all  of  whom,  with  only  one 
exception,  have  been  snatched  from  the  delusions 
of  Popery.  There  are  many  others  who  are  under 
serious  concern  for  the  salvation  of  their  souls. 

Some  time  since  I  received  an  application  from 
ten  families  in  this  parish,  all  Romanists,  requesting 
me  to  interest  myself  on  their  behalf  with  the  Swiss 
Mission,  that  a  schoolmaster  might  be  sent  to  in- 
struct their  children,  promising  to  furnish  a  site  for 
a  building,  to  erect  at  their  own  expense  a  school- 
house,  (the  floors,  doors,  and  windows  excepted,) 


I'l 


I 


r     I 


1 1 

!    I 


)2 


MEMOIR   OF   DR.    COTE. 


and  to  give  legal  possession  of  the  property  to  the 
Mission.  We  are  not  aware  that  the  Gospel  has 
been  introduced  to  more  than  two  or  three  families, 
nor  has  it  produced  as  yet  any  effect  upon  them. 
We  think  that  in  this  proposal  of  theirs  the  finger 
of  God  is  visible,  and  that  He  is  about  to  call  more 
souls  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth.  The  site 
that  is  offered  us  is  very  valuable  in  this  respect, — it 
is  situated  in  the  midst  of  influential  and  respectable 
families.  May  the  Lord  bless  this  new  enterprise, 
that  it  may  issue  in  the  glory  of  his  holy  name  ! 

In  closing  this  Eeport,  dear  brother,  I  have  to 
request  that  you  and  your  readers  will  pray  for  one 
who  knows  and  feels  his  weakness,  and  his  unfit- 
ness for  the  work  to  which  it  has  pleased  the  Lord 
to  call  him.  May  all  Christians  who  read  these 
lines  determine  not  to  forget  us  in  their  daily  sup- 
plications at  the  throne  of  Divine  grace  and  mercy. 
And  now,  beloved  and  much  honored  brother, 
believe  me,  for  life,  your  affectionate  brother  in 
Jesus  Christ, 

C.  H.  0.  COTE. 
Rev.  J.  M.  Cramp,  A.  M. 

Dr.  Cote  continued  to  labor  at  St.  Pie  and 
vicinity  until  the  spring  of  1848,  and  though  for 
the  last  year  or  two  no  revival  took  place,  we  have 
reason  tc  think  that  the  blessing  of  God  rested  upon 


ik* 


MEMOIR   OF   DR.    COTE. 


53 


to  the 
pel  has 
imilies, 

them. 

finger 
11  more 
le   site 
ct, — it 
ectable 
jri^rise, 
ne ! 
ave  to 
for  one 
}  unfit- 
e  Lord 
I  these 
I J  sup. 
mercy, 
rother, 
ber  in 

IE. 


e  and 

;h  for 

!  have 

upon 


fr* 


his  missionary  efforts,  and  that  they  were  blessed 
to  many  a  soul. 

In  August,  1847,  he  wrote  :  "  I  cannot  say,  with 
truth,  that  the  cause  of  the  Saviour  advances  in 
this  place  as  fast  as  the  children  of  God  would 

desire The  priests  of  the  church  of  Rome 

are  violent,  and  spare  no  pains  to  prevent  the  circu- 
lation of  the  "Word  of  God  among  their  flocks, 
proving  by  this  dread  of  the  truth  that  they  are  of 
the  number  of  those  who  '  hate  the  light,  and  will 
not  come  to  the  light,  lest  their  deeds  should  be 
reproved.'  Nevertheless,  in  spite  of  all  their  efforts, 
we  see  from  time  to  time  individuals  withdrawing 
themselves  from  the  worship  of  the  Beast  in  order 
to  take  refuge  ■et  the  feet  of  Him,  concerning  whom 
John  the  Baptist  said,  ^  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God 
that  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world  /  and  these 
experience  the  fulfilment  of  the  declaration,  that 
*  to  as  many  as  received  him,  to  them  he  gave 
power  to  become  the  sons  of  God,  even  to  them 
which  believe  on  his  name.' " 

Whilst  resident  at  St.  Pie,  Dr.  Cote  was  called 
almost  every  year  into  the  United  States  a  month 
or  more,  in  order  to  awaken  an  interest  in  favor  of 
the  Mission,  and  collect  funds  for  its  support. 

In  the  spring  of  1848,  the  circumstances  of  the 
Mission  were  such  that  he  was  obliged  to  visit  the 
United  States,  and  spend  considerable  time  there. 

5* 


if 


Ml!  I- 


!■! 


Mil 


Nil 


!i! 


!, 


54 


MEMOIR   OF   DR.    COTE. 


He  resigned  Lis  charge  at  St.  Pie,  and  proceeded 
on  his  journey  which  lasted  eight  months.  A 
great  part  of  this  period  was  spent  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  where  he  prepared  for  the  press,  and 
edited  for  the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society 
several  French  works  on  the  Romish  Controversy. 
There  were  six  publications,  three  books  and  three 
tracts.  The  volumes  were,  "  Extracts  from  Eccle- 
siastical History  on  the  Origin  of  some  of  the 
Errors  of  the  llomish  Church,"  prepared  by  Rev. 
L.  Normandeau;  "Pengilly's  Scripture  Guide  to 
Baptism,"  translated  by  Rev.  L.  Normandeau;  and 
'^Remington's  Reasons  for  becoming  a  Baptist,'' 
translated  by  Dr.  Cote.  The  first  of  these  volumes 
contains  180  pages,  the  second,  200  pages,  and  the 
third,  80  pages,  making  an  aggregate  of  460  pages. 
The  tracts  were  all  prepared  by  Dr.  Cote;  No.  1, 
The  Holy  Bible  on  Baptism ;  No.  2,  A  Chronolo- 
gical Table  of  important  events ;  No.  3,  A  "Word  in 
Passing,  to  those  who  have  left  the  Romish  Church. 
He  acquitted  himself  of  his  task  with  diligence  and 
fidelity,  and  was  very  successful  in  his  efibrts  to 
gain  friends  and  funds  for  the  Mission. 

He  returned  to  Crrande  Ligne,  where  his  family 
had  lived  during  his  absence,  at  the  end  of  Decem- 
ber of  that  year. 


CHAPTEK  IX. 


HIS  LABORS  AT  ST.  MARY,  NEAR  FORT  GEORGE. 


After  his  return  from  the  United  States,  Dr. 
Cote  spent  two  months  at  Grande  Ligne,  waiting 
for  the  directions  of  his  Heavenly  Father  in  regard 
to  his  future  field  of  labor.  His  attention  was 
drawn  towards  St.  Mary,  a  parish  some  twenty 
miles  east  of  Grande  Ligne,  where  a  certain  number 
of  families  had  been  listening  to  the  Truth. 

But  the  difiiculty  in  the  way  was  the  uncertainty 
of  getting  a  house.  One  was  for  sale,  but  the 
proprietor  lefused  to  sell  it  for  Dr.  Cote.  However, 
God,  who  designed  to  make  him  the  instrument  of* 
much  good  in  that  place,  opened  the  way.  An 
English  Protestant,  a  friend  of  the  Mission,  know- 
ing these  circumstances,  found  the  means  of  buying 
that  house,  and  soon  the  Doctor  took  possession  of 
it,  to  the  great  astonishment  of  the  Eoman  Catholics. 

The  priest  of  the  neighboring  parish  was  so  angry 
at  it,  that  he  came  with  about  a  hundred  of  his 
parishioners  with  the  avowed  purpose  of  driving 
away  Dr.  Cote.     But  God  watched  over  his  servant, 

C65) 


h  ' 


:iii,i 


;!'' 


!!'i 


56 


MEMOIR   OF   DR.   COTE. 


and  the  mob  dispersed  without  daring  or  attempt- 
ing to  do  any  harm. 

During  the  spring  and  summer  of  1849,  he  visited 
many  families  to  whom  he  spoke  of  Christ  crucified. 
His  profession  opened  for  him  the  doors  of  many 
houses,  and  whilst  relieving  the  sufferings  of  the 
body  as  a  physician,  be  forgot  not  the  precious 
soul,  but  made  it  a  rule  to  speak  about  the  Gospel, 
wherever  he  was  called. 

In  the  autumn,  he  again  visited  the  United 
States,  and  on  his  way  to  New  York  wrote  the 
following  letter,  in  which  he  alludes  to  the  useful- 
ness of  the  books  prepared  the  year  before  in 
French,  and  published  by  the  American  Baptist 
Publication  Society. 


li 


•I  ..i 


DR  COTE  TO  REV.  T.    S.   MALCOM,  PHILADELPHIA. 

St.  Johns,  10th  November,  1849, 

Dear  Brother: — Had  I  considered  my  own 
feelings,  I  should  have  written  to  you  a  long  time 
ago.  But  it  has  been  impossible  for  me  so  to  do 
on  account  of  my  numerous  engagements.  It  is 
now  my  intention  to  visit  Philadelphia,  and  there  I 
shall  have  the  pleasure  of  relating  to  you  personally 
all  the  good  that  the  books  which  the  American 
Baptist  Publication  Society  printed  for  us,  have 
done  among  our  poor  benighted  Romanist  population. 


MEMOIR  OP  DR.   COTE. 


57 


attempt- 
he  visited 
crucified, 
of  many 
5s  of  the 
precious 
G  Gospel, 

J  United 
rrote  the 
le  useful- 
before  in 
Baptist 


)ELPHIA. 

1849- 

my  own 
ong  time 
s  so  to  do 
s.  It  is 
d  there  I 
ersonally 
American 
us,  have 
pulation. 


"VTe  have  distributed  nearly  all  of  the  "  Extraits  do 
ia  Historic  Ecclesiastique;''  and  as  imperfect  as 
they  were,  they  have  done  us  an  immense  deal  of 
good.  My  object  in  writing  to  you  to-day,  is  to 
beg  from  your  Society  a  grant  of  the  remaining 
portion  of  that  work  in  your  possession,  as  also  a 
good  supply,  if  you  can  give  it,  of  the  "  Table 
Chronologique,"  which  also  has  proved  very  eflfec- 
tual  among  the  Canadians. 

Dr.  Cote  was  appointed  a  missionary  of  the 
American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  in  com- 
mon with  the  other  ministers  of  the  Grande  Ligne 
Mission,  and  public  preaching  was  established  at 
his  house.  It  began  to  be  attended  by  a  few 
individuals.  The  number  of  the  hearers  gradually 
increased ;  souls  were  converted  to  God ;  and  before 
his  death  he  was  blessed  to  see  some  fifteen  families 
abandoning  the  Bomish  church.  He  baptized  in 
July  and  August  seven  converts,  and  as  many 
more  manifested  a  change  of  heart,  and  were  ready 
to  make  a  public  profession  of  their  faith  by  being 
buried  with  Christ  in  baptism. 

The  field  of  St.  Mary  was  beginning  to  be  very 
interesting,  and  we  thought  our  brother  was  settled 
there  for  a  long  while.  A  church,  we  anticipated, 
was  soon  to  be  organised.  When  he  was  at  the 
Grande  Ligne  last,  just  before  he  set  out  for  the 


■1*1 


:  r  t 


68 


MEMOIR   OP   DR.    COTE. 


United  States,  where  he  was  to  die  in  a  few  days, 
he  spoke  of  it,  and  appeared  very  desirous  that  the 
converts  of  St.  Mary  should  be  organised  into  a 
Christian  church,  and  enjoy  its  holy  privileges ; 
but  we  are  ail  permitted  to  learn  that  while  man 
can  anticipate,  hope  and  appoint,  God,  whose 
thoughts  are  higher  than  our  thoughts,  can  wisely 
and  mercifully  disappoint.  ^^He  doeth  all- things 
well." 


iilli 


TH 


CHAPTER  X. 


niS  LAST  ILLNESS  AND  DEATH. 


Dr.  Cote  was  invited  to  attend  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Lamoille  Association,  which  was  to 
take  phice  at  Hinesburgh,  Vermont,  on  the  18th 
September,  1850;  and  desirous  of  seeing  his  breth- 
ren who  were  going  to  meet  there,  and  of  interesting 
them  in  favor  of  the  Grande  Ligne  Mission,  he 
accepted  the  invitation.  On  his  way,  he  felt  some 
indisposition,  but  it  was  not  thought  serious.  On 
the  morning  of  the  day  that  the  Association  was  to 
meet,  ho  was  seized  with  a  violent  pain  in  his  left 
arm,  which  was  at  first  supposed  to  be  rheumatism. 
However,  he  was  able  to  address  the  meeting, 
though  with  difficulty.  But  soon  afterwards  his 
pain  increased  and  extended  to  every  part  of  his 
body.  Seven  physicians  were  called  in,  who  pro- 
nounced it  a  case  of  inflammatory  neuralgic  fever. 
All  their  efforts  for  his  relief  we^-^  useless.  His 
time  had  come  to  leave  this  world  of  sin  and  trial 
for  his  heavenly  inheritance,  and  it  was  not  in  the 
power  of  man  to  accomplish  his  recovery. 

(59) 


4 


60 


MEMOIR   OF  DR.    COTE. 


"We  have  two  accounts  of  his  death,  one  from  an 
enemy,  and  the  other  from  a  friend.  The  one  is 
from  the  Melanges  lleligieux,  a  Catholic  paper,  the 
substance  of  which  was  that  Dr.  Cote  was  preaching 
in  a  chapel  which  belonged  to  his  sect,  while  at  the 
same  time  a  Catholic  priest  was  preaching  in  a 
neighboring  church.  All  at  once  he  felt  a  sense 
of  suffocation,  and  fell  down  in  great  agony.  Some 
expressions  of  remorse,  in  view  of  his  life,  fell  from 
his  lips,  but  he  died  without  manifesting  any  signs 
of  true  repentance.  Nay,  ho  went  so  far  as  to  try 
to  pervert  a  young  man  who  stood  at  his  side,  but 
happily,  he  was  on  his  guard,  and  could  not  be 
shaken  from  the  faith.  Such  is  the  lying  spirit  in 
the  mouth  of  Popery,  to  this  day.  So  are  its  igno- 
rant victims  deceived,  and  held  in  bondage. 

The  other  account  is  from  Mr.  Normandeau,  of 
the  Grande  Ligne  Mission,  who  was  present  at  the 
time  of  Dr.  Cote's  death,  and  writes  as  an  eye- 
witness of  the  glorious  though  mournful   scene. 

From  an  early  period  in  his  sickness  he  had  a 
settled  impression  that  he  should  not  recover.  His 
sufferings  were  intense,  but  in  the  midst  of  them 
Christian  patience  had  its  perfect  work.  To  those 
around  him  he  would  say,  "  Talk  to  me  about  God." 
On  one  occasion  he  remarked,  "In  me  you  see  a 
perfect  development  of  physical  suffering,  and  of 
spiritual  peace."     When  a  Christian  brother  said 


^ 


MEMOIR  OF  DK.  COTE. 


61 


ic  from  an 
Ihe  one  is 
paper,  the 
preaching 
hile  at  the 
jhing  in  a 
It  a  sense 
>ny.  Some 
2j  fell  from 
;  any  signs 
r  as  to  try 
s  side,  but 
lid  not  be 
ig  spirit  in 
re  its  igno- 

andean,  of 
lent  at  the 
IS  an  eye- 
ful scene. 
3  he  had  a 
over.  His 
3t  of  them 
To  those 
)out  God." 
you  see  a 
ig,  and  of 
other  said 


to  him,  "  It  does  not  seem  as  though  you  could  be 
spared  from  the  mission/'  he  replied,  "God's 
thoughts  are  not  as  our  thoughts,  nor  his  ways  as 
our  ways."     And  so  it  proved. 

lie  had  sent  for  Rev.  Mr.  Normandcau  of  Grande 
Ligne,  and  not  long  after  this  gentleman  had 
arrived  at  Ilinesburgh  the  Doctor  seemed  better, 
and  some  hopes  were  entertained  that  he  might 
recover.  IMr.  Normandcau  returned  home,  but  was 
soon  telegraphed  to  return  to  Ilinesburgh  with  Dr. 
Cote's  two  elder  children.  Mr.  Normandcau 
arrived  on  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  October.  The 
Doctor  had  fallen  into  a  state  of  delirium :  he 
imagined  himself  engaged  in  religious  exercises, 
and  prayed  and  preached  as  if  in  the  presence  of  a 
large  congregation. 

"  About  three  in  the  afternoon,  a  lucid  interval 
was  enjoyed.  His  children  were  taken  to  him. 
The  interview  was  brief,  and  the  words  were  few, 
but  expressive.  *  I  am  happy !  I  am  happy !'  the 
dying  husband  and  father  exclaimed,  and  again 
relapsed  into  unconsciousness,  overpowered  by  the 
excitement. 

"  Shortly  afterwards,  Mr.  Normandcau  spoke  to 
him.  To  an  inquiry  respecting  the  state  of  his 
mind,  he  replied,  ^  Quite  well — all  is  peace.'  '  In 
whom  do  you  place  your  confidence  V  ^  In  Jesuj.' 
*  Do  you  think  that  you  are  dying  V     '  I  am  quite 

6 


;.  ir 


62 


MEMOIR  OP  DR.    COTE. 


^ 


,fl 


'I! 


awaro  of  it.'  'Does  it  grieve  you  that  you  are 
about  to  leave  the  world  V  '  Oh  no  I'  *  But  your 
family?'  'I  lectve  (hem  m  the  hands  of  God.* 
We  spoke  to  him/'  says  Mr.  Normandoau,  "aa 
often  as  there  were  signs  of  returning  consciousness, 
and  he  invariably  said  that  he  had  no  fear.  Some 
days  before,  he  had  remarked  to  those  who  were  in 
attendance,  that  he  had  reason  to  be  very  thankful 
that  this  sickness  had  not  come  upon  him  while  he 
was  yet  in  his  sins,  and  in  connection  with  the 
church  of  Rome.  From  the  beginning  of  his 
illness,  he  had  felt  persuaded  that  he  should  not 
recover;  he  expressed  this  opinion  to  Mrs.  Cote,  at 
the  same  time  consoling  her  by  the  assurance  that 
God  would  take  care  of  her  and  the  children. 

*'He  became  gradually  weaker  till  midnight, 
when  unequivocal  symptoms  of  approaching  disso- 
lution appeared.  At»one  o'clock  in  the  morning 
he  peacefully  departed,  dying  without  a  struggle, 
October  4th,  1850,  in  the  42d  year  of  his  age." 

He  had  expressed  the  desire  of  being  buried  at 
Grande  Ligne,  and  in  compliance  with  this  request, 
his  remains  were  conveyed  there  and  deposited  in 
the  Mission  burial  ground,  in  the  presence  of  a 
large  and  deeply  affected  assembly.  They  were 
followed  by  many  of  the  friends  at  Hinesburgh  as 
far  as  Burlington,  and  by  some  of  t^em  to  the  place 
of  burial.     The  funeral  sermon  was  preached  in 


(I 


MEMOIR   OF   DR.    COTE. 


63 


at  you  are 
'  But  your 
r  of  God: 
ndcau,  "as 
isciousncss, 
ear.  Some 
rho  were  in 
ry  thankful 
m  while  ho 
n  with  the 
ing  of  his 
should  not 
rs.  Cote,  at 
urance  that 
dren. 
midnight, 
thing  disso- 
le  morning 
a  struggle, 
is  age." 
buried  at 


is  request, 
eposited  in 
ence  of  a 
?hey  were 
Dsburgh  as 
)  the  place 
•eached  in 


French  at  the  ^Mission  Chapel,  by  Ilev.  L.  Norman- 
dcau,  from  1  Peter  iv.  7.  lie  v.  L.  Koiissy  read 
the  Scriptures,  gave  a  brief,  but  solemn  adilroHS, 
and  oifered  prayer  at  the  grave.  T'lus  ended  the 
funeral  service  of  a  great  and  good  man.  Many  of  tho 
converts  of  St.  Mary  were  present,  and  accompanied 
in  tears  to  the  grave  their  beloved  minister,  whom 
a  few  weeks  before  they  had  in  their  midst  in 
perfect  health  and  entirely  engaged  in  the  missionary 
work.  They  mourned,  not  as  those,  however,  who 
have  no  hope,  but  as  children  who  bow  m  humility 
and  resignation  before  a  good  and  wise  Father^ 
whose  dispensations  are  all  love  and  mercy. 


1 


'I'i 


i 


i 


I' 


III 


liii' 


CONCLUSION. 

Dr.  Cote  was  a  true  patriot.  He  loved  his 
country,  and  was  always  desirous  of  doing  something 
for  its  welfare.  At  first,  not  knowing  any  better 
way,  he  sought  the  remedy  to  its  evils  in  political 
and  social  changes  alone,  and  had  recourse  to 
unlawful  means.  But  when  he  was  enlightened 
Ly  the  Word  and  Spirit  of  God,  he  saw  that  the 
only  foundation  for  happiness  and  prosperity  is  in 
the  religion  of  the  Gospel;  and  he  immediately 
endeavored  to  impart  it  to  his  fellow-countrymen, 
pointing  them  to  the  Son  of  God,  by  whom  if  they 
were  once  freed,  they  would  be  free  indeed. 

Dr.  Cote  was  a  true  missionary.  His  missionary 
career  was  not  long ;  it  was  only  eight  years,  but  it 
was  well  filled,  and  certainly  successful,  if  we  con- 
sider the  numerous  obstacles  that  beset  the  paths  of 
the  servants  of  God  in  Lower  Canada. 

His  medical  profession,  his  thorough  education, 
his  piety  of  heart,  and  his  natural  activity,  emi- 
nently fitted  him  for  the  arduous  duty  of  a  pioneer 
missionary.  He  could  get  access  to  man  families 
(04) 


m 


MEMOIR  OP  DR.   COTE. 


65 


whom  another  minister  could  not  reach,  and  nothing 
delighted  him  more  than  being  actively  engaged  in 
ministering  to  the  bodily  and  spiritual  wants  of  hia 
dear  fellow-countrymen. 

lie  possessed  more  than  common  natural  powers, 
and  great  energy  of  character.  Whatever  he 
undertook,  he  accomplished  with  all  his  might. 
The  same  remarks  might  apply  in  regard  to  hia 
views,  which  were  generally  very  decided.  How- 
ever, his  attachment  to  his  convictions  did  not 
J)reveut  him  from  enjoying  the  "communion  of 
saints ;"  he  associated  himself  with  Christians  of 
all  denominations,  and  was  happy  among  them. 

Dr.  Cote  was  a  good  preacher ,  though  not  regu- 
larly trained  for  the  ministry.  His  political  career 
had  accustomed  him  to  speak  in  public,  and  as 
Boon  as  he  knew  the  truth  he  became  a  preacher 
and  a  missionary.  The  writer  remembers  having 
been  deeply  affected  when  he  heard  him  for  the 
first  time  proclaiming  the  Gospel.  He  had  heard 
him  before  speak  in  public )  it  was  during  the  time 
of  the  rebellion,  when  the  Doctor  harangued  the 
soldiers  before  one  of  the  fearful  battles  in  which 
he  was  engaged  ;  but  now,  himself  converted  a  few 
months  before,  he  saw  the  rebel  transformed  into  a 
soldier  of  the  cross  of  Christ,  and  proclaiming  the 
glorious  Gospel  he  loved  so  ardently,  and  he  could 
not  sufficiently  bless  his  Heavenly  Father  for  the 

6* 


:/  .M 


66 


MEMOIR   OF  DR.    COTE. 


.il!l     |i;. 


II  II     ir 


f 


great  and  glorious  change  that  had  taken  place. 
And  now,  after  having  toiled  but  a  little  while  in 
missionary  service  with  him,  he  mourns  over  him 
as  over  a  dear  departed  fellow-laborer,  a  faithful 
friend,  and  a  sincere  brother  in  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord. 

Dr.  Cote  was  also  useful  as  an  autJior  and 
editor.  Perhaps  when  all  earthly  things  are 
summed  up,  this  branch  of  his  labors  will  be  found 
laden  with  precious  fruit  beyond  all  the  rest. 

None  who  have  read  his  Reply  to  "Kirwan/' 
however  much  they  may  deplore  its  necessity,  can 
doubt  his  eminent  ability,  effectiveness,  and  Chris- 
tian spirit  as  a  controversial  writer.  Alas  !  that  on 
such  a  subject — a  subject  which  lies  at  the  very 
threshold  of  the  Christian  church  in  all  the  lovely 
simplicity  of  a  Christian  duty — the  watchmen  of 
Zion  should  not  see  eye  to  eye,  and  lift  up  their 
voices  together !  It  is  not  our  intention  to  dwell 
on  this  subject,  where  the  vantage  ground  of 
Scripture  was  so  clearly  on  the  side  of  Dr.  Cote, 
but  as  an  act  of  justice  to  his  memory  to  say,  that 
he  amply  acquitted  himself  of  every  allegation 
which  was  brought  against  him  in  the  New  York 
Observer ;  and  displayed  a  beautiful  example  of  the 
union  of  wisdom,  faithfulness  and  love,  as  honorable 
to  our  common  Christianity  as  to  his  own  indivi- 
dual profession  of  its  transforming  power. 


II  'I 


MEMOIR  OP  DR.    COTE. 


67 


Of  the  works  whicli  he  prepared  for  the  press, 
in  the  French  language,  many  thousands  of  copies 
have  been  circulated  already  in  the  United  States, 
in  Canada,  in  Hayti,  and  in  France.  Two  of  them 
have  been  eminently  successful  in  opening  the 
blind  eyes,  viz.,  "The  Errors  of  the  Eomish 
Church,''  and  "  A  Word  in  Passing."  In  refer- 
ence to  the  surprising  effects  of  the  latter  tract,  a 
missionary  in  Hayti  writes,  "  Had  Dr.  Cote  written 
nothing  else,  he  would  not  have  lived  in  vain." 

In  reviewing  the  Life  of  Dr.  Cote  we  are  struck 
with  several  points  worthy  of  reflection. 

1.  We  see  the  vanity  and  misery  of  Infidelity. 
Born  and  bred  in  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  his 
discerning  mind  perceived  her  corruptions,  and  her 
pernicious  influence  on  his  countrymen,  whom  he 
loved  with  a  patriotic  affection.  He  threw  off  the 
fetters  of  her  despotic  sway,  and  in  ignorance  of 
any  better  faith,  sought  refuge  in  a  skeptical 
philosophy.  But  in  vain.  He  found  nothing 
satisfactory,  nothing  sufficient  to  solve  the  inquiries 
of  his  mind,  to  alleviate  the  burdens  of  conscience, 
or  purify  and  fill  the  yearning  affections  of  his 
heart.  Professionally  attending  on  a  dying  friend, 
he  could  neither  stay  the  uplifted  arm  of  death, 
nor  charm  away  the  venom  of  its  sting  by  any  well 
grounded  hopes  of  pardon  and  immortal  happiness 
beyond  the  grave.     Over  the  cold  grave  hung  the 


II 


■  , 


68 


MEMOia  OP  DR.   COTE. 


I 


^i| 


gloomy  shadows  of  dreadful  uncertainty.  The 
tears  he  shed  for  his  lost  friend  were  the  tears  of 
despair.  Nor  was  he  able  to  find  rest  for  his  soul, 
until  he  was  effectually  led  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 

2.  We  see  in  his  conversion  a  remarkable  instance 
of  God's  distinguishing  grace.  The  question  of 
the  Apostle,  "Who  maketh  thee  to  differ  from 
another  ?"  admits  of  but  one  answer ;  and  that 
arswer  Dr.  Cote  was  ever  ready  to  give  from  a  full 
heart  of  trembling  gratitude.  He  had  seen  his 
friend  die  without  hope.  He,  though  equally 
unworthy,  perhaps  more  guilty  In  the  sight  of  God, 
was  spared,  softened,  humbled  at  the  foot  of  the 
cross,  and  filled  with  unspeakable  joy  and  peace  in 
believing.  Why  was  this  ?  The  fact  is  certain. 
The  cause  lies  deep  in  the  recesses  of  God's 
unsearchable  wisdom  and  love.  From  the  midst 
of  the  thick  darkness,  we  hear  a  voice  of  Sovereign 
Majesty,  declaring,  "  I  will  cause  all  my  goodness 
to  pass  before  thee,  and  I  will  have  mercy  upon 
whom  I  will  have  mercy."  In  Dr.  Cote  we  see  a 
brard  plucked  from  the  fire — a  vessel  of  mercy 
prepared  afore  unto  glory — a  chosen  vessel  to  bear 
the  name  of  Christ  to  his  deluded  and  perishing 
fellow-men.  What  a  song  of  admiring  and  adoring 
gratitude  must  be  his  forever !  And  how  thank- 
fully should  we  also  glorify  God  in  him  ! 


MEMOIR  OP  DR.   COTE. 


69 


3.  Weltnr    from  this  Memoir  that  even  Infidels, 
who  were  formerly  Roman  Catholics,   are  within 
tlie  reach  of  evangelical  labor,  and  hope.     We  say 
even  Infidels,  for  such  was  Dr.  Cote  before  he  was 
brought  to  the  careful  study  of  the  Bible.     Robert 
Hall  has  somewhere  said  that  "  Infidelity  is  merely 
a  noxious  spawn,  bred  in  the  stagnant  marshes  of 
a  corrupted  Christianity/'  and  the  justice  of  this 
observation  is  seen  in  the   bioprraphy  before   us. 
Had  not  Dr.  Cote  seen  in  the  Romish  church  to 
which  he  belonged  by  birth  and  education,  such  a 
mass  of  glaring  corruption,  he  might  never  have 
felt  the  shock  and  recoil  which  drove  him   into 
unbelief.     Or,  if  he  had  made  that  painful  discovery 
in  the  light  of  the  Scriptures,  he  might  have  cast 
off  Romej  without  casting  off  Christianity,     But 
as  he  had   ever  been  trained  to  regard  them  as 
one,  it  was  not  easy  to  make  the  necessary  separa- 
tion, even  were  he  so  disposed,  until  he  became 
acquainted  with  the  Bible,  the  Book  forbidden  by 
Rome,  lest  its  light  should  expose  her  aggravated 
sins.     To  the  study  of  this  Book  we  have  seen  that 
he  was  led,  by  observing  its  happy  influence  on  the 
hearts  and  lives  of  sincere  Christians.     The  prayer 
meetings  of  the   little   church   at   Swanton   first 
unfolded  to  him   the  holy  beauty,  the   elevating 
hopes,  and  the  tender  tranquillizing  power  of  the 
Bpiritual  life  imparted  by  Christ  to  all  true  believers. 


m 


'11 


:l 


I   I 


'I  I 


s 


y  ; 


I 


r 


70 


MEMOIR   OP   DR.    COTE. 


4.  If  then  in  his  case  we  sec  there  is  hope  of 
reclaiming  the  Infidel,  much  more  do  we  see  such 
hope  of  success  in  evangelical  labors  for  the  instruc- 
tion and  salvation  of  Roman  Catholics.  The  letter 
of  Dr.  Cote  to  his  wife,  so  prompt,  so  earnest,  so 
aiFectionate,  so  judicious,  was  precious  seed  sown 
in  tears,  soon  to  be  reaped  in  the  joy  of  her  con- 
version and  faithful  co-operation  in  the  work  of 
Christ.  The  whole  history  of  his  subsequent 
labors,  and  indeed  the  whole  history  of  the  (rrando 
Ligne  Mission  from  the  beginning  to  this  day, 
afford  abundant  proof  that  no  depth  of  ignorance 
and  superstition,  no  power  of  hereditary  prejudice, 
no  arts  of  a  wily  and  desperate  priesthood,  can  rear 
a  barrier  impassable  to  the  humble,  prayerful, 
persevering  efforts  of  evangelical  Christians  for  the 
conversion  of  Roman  Catholics.  No  doubt  can 
exist  on  this  point  in  the  mind  of  any  individual, 
after  reading  this  Memoir.  The  brief  Narratives 
that  follow  will  form  the  proper  sequel,  support, 
and  seal  of  this  gratifying  position. 

5.  No  one,  it  seems  to  us,  can  fail  in  deriving 
from  the  latter  part  of  this  Memoir,  the  cheering 
lesson  that  God  reigns  in  the  promotion  of  His 
-own  kingdom ;  and  that,  as  a  consequence,  opposi- 
tion of  all  sorts  may  be  overruled  for  good.  It  is 
s  short-sighted  philanthropy  that  hopes  to  find 
every  effort  and  sacrifice  for  the  good  of  others, 


MEMOIR   OP  DR.    COTE. 


71 


greeted  by  universal  applause,  and  individr  \\  grati- 
tude. However  worthy  of  being  welcomed  thus, 
the  life  and  deatli  of  our  Redeemer  teach  us  upon 
this  point  a  more  stern  and  awful  truth.  We  may 
go  forth  with  the  lamp  of  life  to  benighted  men, 
and  yet  find  that  they  love  darkness  rather  than 
light,  because  their  deeds  are  evil;  or  they  have 
encompassed  themselves  "  with  sparks  of  their  own 
kindling" — the  vain  but  flattering  hopes  of  self- 
righteousness  ;  or  they  are  blinded  and  betrayed  by 
the  arts  of  false  teachers,  crying  'peace,  peace,' 
when  there  is  no  peace.  It  is  not  difficult  to  incite 
men  in  this  condition  when  opportunity  serves,  to  acts 
of  popular  violence  in  order  to  extinguish  the  light 
that  annoys  them.  And  God  permits  the  trial, 
that  the  spirits  of  men  may  thus  bo  more  fully 
tested;  and  that  the  transforming  power  of  the 
G'^spel  may  appear  more  conspicuous  and  glorious 
by  the  vivid  contrast  with  the  evil  it  has  come  to 
expose  and  destroy.  Hence  the  precepts  :  "  Render 
to  no  man  evil  for  evil ;  but  ever  follow  that  which 
is  good,  both  among  yourselves  and  towards  all 
men."  '^  Be  not  overcome  of  evil,  but  overcome 
evil  with  good."  "  Love  your  enemies ;  bless  them 
that  curse  you ;  do  good  unto  them  that  despitefully 
use  you,  and  persecute  you ;  that  ye  may  be  the 
children  of  your  Father  which  is  in  Heaven."  The 
happy  effects  of  obedience  to  these  precepts  in  the 


t  'i 


f 


(1 


72 


MEMOIR  OF  DR.   COTE 


|1 


history  of  the  persecuted  Christians  of  St.  Pie,  as 
recorc'ed  in  this  volume,  will  recur  to  every  mind 
in  this  connexion.  The  right  of  appeal  in  such 
cases  to  the  protection  of  the  civil  power,  is  beyond 
question,  and  in  some  extreme  cases,  it  is  equally 
clear  that  its  justice  mpy  be  invoked  in  redress  of 
wanton  injuries ;  .  t  ^ ,  en  justice  has  pronounced  in 
our  favor,  then  to  ivb  •  ir  its  action  with  mercy, 
and  repay  good  for  evil,  i .  not  more  the  peculiar 
glory  of  the  Gospel  than  it  is  its  peculiar  power  of 
winning  new  victories  and  nobler  triumphs  for  the 
Truth.  Such  has  been  the  case  at  the  Grande 
Ligne  Mission. 


1:1  ;i, 


m 


Pie,  as 
ry  mind 
in  such 
beyond 
equally 
Iress  of 
need  in 
mercy, 
)eeuliar 
'wer  of 
for  the 
Grrande 


Htemofr  d  MtB.  M.  f,  €u 


it 


i\ 


MEMOIR. 


No  one  who  has  read  the  tender  and  beautiful 
letter  of  Dr.  Cote  to  his  wife,  immediately  after  his 
conversion,  can  be  indifferent  to  her  character  and 
history.  The  following  sketch  is  compiled  from  a 
letter  of  Madame  Feller,  published  in  the  Grande 
Ligne  Mission  Register  of  1851,  addressed  to  the 
Ladies'  Associations  auxiliary  to  the  Mission,  and 
from  a  few  other  materials  illustrative  of  her  con- 
version, and  of  her  feelings  in  view  of  her  husband's 
death,  and  in  expectation  of  her  own. 

Mrs.  Cote's  parents  were  English  lloman  Catholics. 
They  trained  her  up  strictly  in  their  own  faith,  to 
which  she  became  sincerely  attached.  She  spent 
several  years  of  her  life  in  a  convent,  while  recei- 
ving her  education;  and  when  afterwards  married 
to  Dr.  Cote,  she  was  a  devout  Roman  Catholic, 
submissive  to  all  the  teachings  of  her  church.  At 
that  time,  indeed.  Dr.  Cote  himself  was  still  within 
the  pale  of  the  Romish  church ;  and  when  he  with- 
drew, and  became  by  degrees  an  Infidel,  his  wife 
applied  herself  the  more  diligently  to  her  religious 

(75) 


1' 


''»« 


^ 


Hi 


%, 


m 


76 


MEMOIR  OP   MRS.   COTE. 


Ill 


exercises ;  performing  twice  as  many  as  before,  in 
the  fond  hope  that  a  part  might  be  imputed  to  her 
beloved  husband  I  Whole  nights  were  sometimes 
spent  in  repeating  her  prayers  for  him,  with  weeping 
agony. 

The  time  of  "  the  two  rebellions"  in  Canada,  in 
which  her  husband,  from  his  patriotic  zeal,  took  so 
prominent  a  part,  was  marked  by  many  misfortunes, 
and  filled  with  bitter  grief  to  Mrs.  Cote.  Separated 
from  her  husband,  for  whose  life  she  constantly 
trembled,  she  saw  her  house  plundered  and  burnt; 
sick,  and  with  two  young  children,  she  found  herself 
destitute  of  every  thing,  in  a  severe  season,  until  a 
generous  friend  furnished  her  the  means  of  seeking 
a  new  abode.  Even  then  she  cruelly  suffered  both 
bodily  and  mentally,  as  long  as  she  was  unable  to 
join  her  husband  in  his  place  of  exile.  But  that 
place  of  exile  was  a  scene  of  mercy,  from  which  was 
dated  the  happiness  of  their  future  lives.  It  was 
there,  through  the  grace  of  God,  that  Dr.  Cote  was 
brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Truth ;  and  his 
wife,  perceiving  the  happy  change  produced  in 
him,  was  convinced  it  was  the  work  of  God,  and 
subsequently  led  to  seek  the  same  blessing. 

The  result  was  not  immediate.  After  receiving  the 
French  Bible  sent  by  her  husband,  she  was  still  too 
much  under  the  influence  of  the  Romish  church  to 
dare  to  read  it.     But  one  day  when  riding  out  alone 


MEMOIR  OF   MRS.   COTE. 


77 


in  her  brotlicr*s  carriage,  she  met  an  elderly  English 
gentleman  of  her  acquaintance,  who  in  the  course 
of  conversation  informed  her  that  he  was  going  to 
attend  a  prayer  meeting  at  the  Grande  Ligne  Mis- 
sion. She  expressed  her  astonishment  that  he 
should  go  to  the  worship  of  fanatics  and  deceivers. 
He  told  her  that  she  was  greatly  mistaken — that 
they  were  not  bad  people,  but  simple  Bible  Chris- 
tians, whose  chief  desire  was  to  follow  Jesus  Christ 
— and  begged  her  to  go  with  him  to  the  meeting, 
and  judge  for  herself.  She  hesitated  some  time, 
but  at  length  from  the  confidence  she  felt  in  his 
integrity,  and  the  recollection  of  her  husband's 
happy  change,  she  determined  to  go.  There  she 
heard  for  the  first  time  in  her  life,  the  word  of  God 
read,  and  her  heart  was  touched  with  its  truths,  and 
with  the  prayers  that  followed.  On  returning  to 
her  brother's  house,  where  she  then  resided,  she 
took  up  with  trembling  earnestness  the  neglected 
Bible,  and  prayerfully  resolved  to  follow  her  hus- 
band's advice,  and  make  it  her  guide  to  salvation. 
But  in  order  to  do  this  she  soon  found  it  would  be 
necessary  to  in*  ur  the  displeasure  of  all  her  Roman 
Catholic  friends,  and  indeed  to  be  banished  from 
their  society.  The  house  of  her  brother  could  no 
longer  be  her  home,  nor  would  her  own  father 
receive  her.  Her  mind  was  torn  with  conflicting 
emotions,  but  the  path  of  duty  appeared  plain.  She 

7* 


'iH 


w 


MEMOIR  OP   MRS.   COTE. 


Ill; 
U 


determined  to  join  her  husband  in  exile,  with  her 
two  little  ones.  Afterwards  she  sought  the  spiritual 
aid  of  the  Christians  of  Grande  Ligne,  that  she 
might  find  rest  to  her  troubled  conscience,  in  the 
only  true  way  revealed  in  the  Gospel. 

"Then,"  says  Madame  Feller,  "with  the  sim- 
plicity of  a  child,  she  came  and  asked  us  to  receive 
her,  and  instruct  her  in  the  way  of  life.  I  shall 
never  forget  the  blessed  moment  in  which  her  heart 
understood  the  way  of  salvation,  and  received  the 
grace  of  God.  Mr.  Roussy  was  explaining  to  her 
the  third  chapter  of  the  Gospel  of  John,  when 
suddenly  she  exclaimed,  '  What  unction  comes  upon 
me !  my  soul  is  filled  with  it !  my  body  even  is 
impressed  by  it !'  She  had  just  been  enabled  to 
believe  that  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave 
his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in 
him,  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life. 
Three  weeks  afterwards  she  went  to  relate  to  her 
husband  what  God  had  done  for  her  soul.'' 

This  all-important  change  occurred  in  1841,  and 
was  decisive  of  her  future  course.  On  leaving  the 
Romish  church,  as  was  foreseen,  Mrs.  Cote  was 
abandoned  by  her  relatives*  This  was  very  painful 
to  her  feelings ;  but  she  enjoyed  the  full  consolations 
of  the  Gospel ;  and  longed  to  impart  them  to  others 
by  every  means  in  her  power.  Hence  when  her 
husband  resolved  to  become  a  Missionary,  she  joined 


MEMOIR   OF   MRS.    COTE. 


79 


him  with  all  her  heart,  and  remained  attached  to 
this  blessed  work  until  her  death.  Many  instances 
might  be  given  to  show  the  fervor  of  her  zeal  and 
love.  On  this  point  Madame  Normandeau  says,  in 
a  letter  to  her  daughter : — 

"  No  one  knows  better  than  yourself,  how  truly 
your  dear  mother's  spirit  was  a  missionary  one — 
though  she  never  took  the  name  of  missionary,  and 
in  her  humility  felt  that  she  was  not  one.  She 
sacredly  improved  every  opportunity,  daily  provi- 
dence and  circumstances  offered,  to  bring  forward 
Jesus  as  the  Saviour  of  sinners.  The  pedlar  offer- 
ing his  wares,  and  the  pauper  soliciting  aid,  will 
alike  remember  her  earnest  appeals  to  their  con- 
sciences, and  the  fervid  simplicity  with  which  she  told 
them  the  story  of  the  Cross.  She  ranked  herself 
among  the  poorest  of  Christians,  but  0,  she  was 
rich  in  faith,  and  ever  felt  that  she  was  an  inheritor 
of  the  precious  promises.^' 

The  two  leading  features  of  her  character  were 
simplicity  of  faith  and  gratefulness  of  affection.  She 
received  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  enjoyed  them  as 
a  child }  and  like  David  took  delight  in  numbering 
the  many  tokens  of  the  goodness  of  God,  and  giving 
Him  thanks  for  them  all.  , 

Under  the  heavy  stroke  which  so  suddenly 
bereaved  her  of  her  husband,  3Irs.  Cote  was  stronger 
and  more  sustained  than  her  friends  had  dared  to 


'  ir 


80 


MEMOIR  OF   MRS.   COTE. 


hope.  She  was  silent  and  opened  not  her  mouth, 
because  it  was  God  that  had  done  it.  The  follow- 
ing letter  to  Mrs.  J.  L.  Seddinger  of  Philadelphia, 
written  about  six  months  after  her  husband's  death, 
lays  open  the  recesses  of  her  bleeding,  but  submis- 
sive heart : — 


Fort  George,  (C.  E.,)  March  19, 1851. 

Dear  Sister  in  the  Lord : — Yours,  dated  Novem- 
ber 1st,  was  handed  to  me  by  Madame  Feller  in 
due  season.  I  would  have  answered  it  long  ero 
this,  could  I  have  made  up  my  mind  to  write 
concerning  the  death  of  my  dear  departed  husband. 
But  it  was  impossible.  I  could  not  muster  courage 
sufficient  to  do  it.  To-day  I  was  in  hopes  I  could ; 
but  how  little  do  we  know  our  own  strength  !  Every 
pore  is  opened  anew,  and  I  feel  as  I  did  the  first 
week  of  his  death.  Yet  I  mourn  not  as  many  do ; 
for  I  know  that  he  is  happy,  and  that  he  is  with 
his  God  and  our  God.  What  a  blessed  and  happy 
thought !  Delivered  from  all  temptations  and  sins, 
no  sorrow  can  now  reach  him,  for  he  is  forever 
enjoying  the  bliss  of  the  redeemed. 

"  Yes,  dear  sister,  my  loss  is  great,  and  deeply 
do  I  feel  it.  Notwithstanding  I  feel  that  the  Lord 
has  indeed  been  the  widow's  God,  and  that  He  has 
answered  the  prayers  of  my  dear  friends;  for  I 
have  been  wonderfully  sustained  in  all  my  trials. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.    COTE. 


81 


I 


Although  not  one  of  my  own  relations  has  been 
near  me  since  his  death,  the  Lord  has  raised  other 
friends ;  and  how  precious  and  soothing  have  been 
their  sympathies  in  the  hour  of  affliction.  Please 
remember  me  affectionately  to  all  the  dear  friends 
in  Philadelphia.  Often  have  I  heard  my  dear  hus- 
band speak  in  raptures  of  the  kindness  that  was 
manifested  towards  him  in  your  family  and  many 
others  in  the  same  place;  and  how  truly  did  he 
realize  that  the  religion  of  Jesus  is  a  religion 'of 
level 

"  The  little  flock  in  this  place  felt,  and  still  feel 
his  loss  very  much.  Mr.  lloussy  has  taken  his 
place,  and  I  am  happy  to  say  the  work  is  still  pros- 
pering, and  many  souls  are  coming  to  the  know- 
ledge of  the  blessed  Gospel.  It  is  the  Lord's  work 
and  not  man's;  therefore  He  will  take  care  of  it, 
and  raise  efficient  laborers  to  perform  it. 

"  My  dear  children  are,  thank  God,  pretty  well. 
I  cannot  say  as  much  for  myself.  My  health  has 
been  very  poorly  all  the  winter. 

*^  Please  remember  me  in  your  prayers,  also  my 
dear  little  ones,  that  we  may  all  meet  at  the  throne 
of  grace.  I  shall  be  most  happy  to  hear  from  you 
Trhenever  you  can  make  it  convenient.  In  the 
mexin  time  believe  me,  my  dear  sister,  to  remain 

<  Yours  affectionately  in  the  Lord, 

^^  Margaret  Y.  Cote." 


82 


MEMOIR   OF   MRS,    COTE. 


i  S 


'I 
I 


It  Will  be  seen  from  this  letter  that  Mrb.  Cote 
vras  then  in  feeble  health ;  and  under  the  impression 
that  she  would  not  long  remain  in  this  world,  she 
made  all  her  arrangements  accordingly.  Provi- 
dentially two  years  before,  her  husband  had  insured 
his  life,  and  the  avails  of  this  foresight  now  came 
into  her  possession.  Deeply  thankful  for  the  means 
thus  furnished  her  to  bring  up  her  children,  she 
removed  in  the  summer  to  Grand  Ligne,  as  the 
most  suitable  place  for  the  education  she  intended 
to  give  them.  But  before  the  house  she  was  build- 
ing there  was  ready  to  receive  her,  she  was  gone  to 
that  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens. 

"From  the  commencement  of  her  sickness," 
writes  Madam  Feller,  "  she  had  no  hope  of  recovery, 
and  her  maternal  heart  had  a  moment  of  anguish 
at  the  thought  of  leaving  her  chnurej^\  But  very 
soon  she  humbled  herseli  for  thh  want  of  confi- 
dence, and  with  a  simple  and  firm  faith,  confided 
her  children  to  the  care  of  her  Heavenly  Father. 
With  the  most  perfect  confidence  she  left  them  to 
the  Missionary  family,  saying  :  ^I  know  my  chil- 
dren are  your  children.' 

"  From  that  time  not  a  cloud  obscured  her  faith ; 
ehe  Cv  nyoled  her  children  and  her  friends.  ^Do 
not  cry,*  she  would  say,  '  but  since  you  love  me, 
rejoice;  my  soul  is  going  to  appear  before  God.' 


MEMOIR   OF   ^JRS.    COTS:. 


83 


Hearing  v^omcbody  weep,  she  saltl,  '  Do  not  weep ; 
there  is  cause  for  rejoicing;  a  poor  sinner  saved  by 
grace  is  gc'ng  to  appear  before  God.'  She  spoko 
to  those  around  her  of  the  happiness  she  enjoyed 
in  the  peace  and  love  of  her  Saviour,  and  ceased 
not  until  her  last  breath  to  render  thanks  unto  Ilim, 
for  the  mercy  He  had  shown." 

The  following  letters  from  Madame  Normandeaa 
to  Rev.  Mr,  Gillette  of  l*hilade]phia,  and  to  Mrs. 
Cote's  eldest  daughter,  then  in  a  Female  Seminary 
in  the  same  city,  will  furnish  many  interesting 
particulars.     The  first  is  dated, 


r 


)  I 


}9 


"  September  19,  1851. 

"  Dear  Bro.  GUlctte : — I  leave  the  bedside  of  our 
almost  sainted  sister  just  to  tell  you,  in  all  tender- 
ness, to  prepare  the  mind  of  our  dear for  the 

intelligence  I  have  to  communiciite,  that  her  dear 
mother  is  dying  gloriously.  I  will  write  again  when 
all  shall  be  over." 

Under  the  same  date,  Madame  iS^ormand'iau 
writes  to  the  daughter : 

"  Hero  I  am,  dearest   


-,  with  a  s.  d  and 
trembling,  yet  happy  heart,  writing.  Your  dear 
mother's  disease  is  gaining  ground,  and  she  seems 
like  some  happy,  bright,  celestial  bird,  just  ready 
for  a  homeward  flight.  Your  dear  mother  feels 
that  you  arc  just  whore  God  has  pkced  you,  and 


84> 


MEMOIR  OP  MRS.   COTE. 


Ih 


I'l. 


Tvould  not  have  yoa  here ;  she  could  not  bear  a 
second  parting  witb  you,  and  commends  you  to  her 
and  your  God  for  consolation.  That  you  should 
have  left  so  short  v.  time  since,  I  do  not  regret,  your 
dear  mother  scenes  so  happy  in  leaving  you  where 
you  are.  Try  and  imitate  her,  dearest,  and  do  not 
murmur.  Ther3  is  no  hope  of  her  recovery.  How 
can  I  leave  you  ?  But  I  must.  Nay  Jesus  take 
you  to  his  loving  arms." 

Again,  two  days  later,  the  same  kind  friend 
wi'^es  ai^  follows : 

"  My  chamber,  Sunday,  21. 

^^ My  own  precious: — How  can  I  acquit  myself 
of  the  painful  i^isk  now  devolving  upon  me  ?  God 
must  be  my  s!  rength,  aiul  yours,  too,  dearest,  to  en- 
able you  to  bear  the  tidin^^s  this  sheet  will  contain. 
O,  that  you  had  the  sud  pleasure  of  being  with  us; 
but  since  the  good  land  of  God  has  denied  you 
this,  I  will  give  you  many  precious  details.  Ever 
since  I  wrote  you  last,  your  precious  mother  has 
been  gradually  sinking,  and  at  three  o'clock  this 
morning  her  spirit  winged  its  flight  to  mansions 
above,  there  to  •-^ijoj  •'  glorious  Sabbath  free  from 
Bin. 

What  a  privilege  it  hpa  been  to  attenr>  her ! 
Such  faith !  such  .^ongs  of  praise  and  gratitude ! 
Buch  entire  submission  to  her  Father's  will  and 
care!    A    week  ago  to-day  she  thought  some  of 


MEMOIR    OF   MRS.    COTE. 


85 


commg  to  church;  but  I  discouraged  her  in  my 
morning  visit,  fearing  the  effort  might  bring  on  her 
partially  checked  diarrhoea. 

Monday  she  seemed  quite  feeble,  but  thought 
with  care  she  should  soon  be  well ;  though  fghc  said 
she  scarcely  desired  it,  for  she  felt  her  work  on  earth 
was  done,  and  she  only  longed  to  lay  her  dust  beside 
hei  ^  good  man's,'  and  to  go  to  rest  above.  This 
brought  on  much  conversation  about  you  all,  which 
I  shall  long  remember,  and  she  closed  with  the  as- 
surance that  the  Lord  would  do  all  things  well. 

On  Tuesday  morning  I  found  her  so  much  hot- 
ter, that  we  supposed  nothing  was  wanting  but  to 
build  her  up  with  nourishing  food.  Towards  noon 
she  told  me  she  was  in  great  distress.  Madame 
Feller  found  her  suffering  from  what  she  supposed 
was  indigestion.  The  spasm  passed,  and  left  her 
weak  but  otherwise  easy.  I  spoke  again  of  sending 
for  Dr.  White.  She  replied,  *  He  can  do  me  no 
good ;  husband  told  me  I  could  receive  no  good 
from  the  doctors,  that  I  was  nearly  done,  and  must 
not  take  medicine;  but  on  going  to  St.  Pie  on 
Thursday,  if  you  have  a  mind  to  see  him  yourself, 
tell  him  how  I  am,  I  have  no  objections.'  AVe 
were  then  all  intending  to  go  to  St.  Pie,  to  the  ex- 
amination of  the  girls'  school.  I  replied,  ^We 
shall  not  go  and  leave  you  so  ill.  I  shall  stay  and 
take  care  of  you.' 


/^ 


8G 


MEMOIR   OF   MRS.    COTE. 


'  I 


! 


I  ?' 


I    ■ 


"Wednesday  T)r.  "White  came,  and  said  her  case 
was  very  critical,  but  he  would  try  what  medicine 
would  do.  Your  mother  dreaded  the  eifect  upon 
her  weak  frame ;  but  summoning  her  courage,  she 
said,  '  Do  all  you  like,  I  will  do  my  duty.'  Your 
dear  mother  tried  all  with  wonderful  energy,  not- 
withstanding her  almost  deathly  weakness,  feeling 
at  ^he  same  time  confident  that  her  end  was  near. 
She  suffered  comparatively  but  little  pain,  for  the 
disease  was  treated  most  gently.  For  twenty-four 
hours  after  first  taken  on  Tuesday,  she  suffered 
keenly,  and  often  praj^ed  for  relief  with  submission. 
"Wonderful  relief  was  given,  and  she  said  to  me, 
'  What  a  good  Lord  my  Lord  is !  I  asked  for  a  lit- 
tle relief,  and  he  has  takan  away  all  my  pain ;  he 
has  always  done  more  than  I  asked.' 

Her  frame  of  mind  from  the  first  was  most 
heavenly,  iendcring  it  truly  edifying  to  be  with 
her;  we  all  esteemed  it  a  high  privilege.  It  was 
often  with  difficulty  she  could  speak;  but  she  said 
much.  0,  how  much  she  said,  to  her  dear  son  Wol- 
fred,  praying  him  not  to  murmur,  not  to  weep,  for 
a  soul  was  going  to  appear  before  its  God.  "We 
shall  never  forget  the  emphasis  with  which  she  said 
often  to  us,  ^^  Pas  une  larme^  c^cst  une  Mm'son  de 
joioy  ixir  ce  qii  une  ame  va  paraitre  dcvant  son 
Dicu."  "  Not  a  tear,  it  is  a  house  of  joy,  a  soul 
is  going  to  appeal'  before  its  God.'' 


T 


her  case 
tnodicinc 
}ct  upon 
'age,  she 
Your 
rgy,  not- 
I,  feeling 
7as  near. 
,  for  the 
;nty-four 
suffered 
)mission. 
[  to  mo, 
for  a  lit- 
)aiu;  he 

s  most 
|be  with 
It  was 
Isho  said 
u  Wol- 
leep,  for 
ll.  Wo 
ihe  said 
mm  de 
\int  son 
a  soul 


MEMOIR   OF   MRS.    COTE. 


w 


Wiien  too  feeble  to  do  it  herself,  she  bade  mo 
draw  her  wedding  ring,  and  said  merely,  *  Rose.' 
I  have  the  precious  relic  for  you,  and  0,  how  you 
will  prize  it.  What  prayer  she  off""ed  for  you  I 
'  Tell  dear  Rose  I  have  nothing  more  to  say  to  her, 
she  knows  my  washes ;  my  desire  is  that  she  may  bo 
all  the  Lord's,  but  tell  her  I  loved  her  fondly ;  I 
do  not  desire  her  back,  it  would  be  too  painful  for 
her  to  go  back  alone  and  motherless;  lef  her  im- 
prove her  great  privileges  and  prenare  for  useful- 
ness.' 

Madame  Feller  was  devoted  to  her  night  and  day 
after  she  fell  seriously  ill,  and  was  present  with 
many  others  to  close  her  eyes  in  death.  Though 
almost  speechless  for  twelve  hours  before  her  death, 
she  was  conscious,  and  knew  us  all  until  half  an 
hour  before  her  end,  when  she  simply  breathed 
fihorter  and  shorter  until  life  was  extinct.  Heavenly 
peace  is  stamped  upon  her  lovely  clay ;  the  spirit 
left  its  impress  there  as  it  passed  to  heaven. 

0,  with  what  affection  did  she  kiss  us  all,  and 
point  upward !  I  know  I  shall  not  tell  you  all,  for 
my  heart,  though  happy  for  her,  is  sick  for  us  and 
you,  and  head  and  limbs  are  weary.  The  dear  chil- 
dren, almost  sick  with  weeping,  are  already  estab- 
lished as  ours.  The  Lord  teach  us  all  our  duty  in 
reference  to  them. 

Little  Augusta,  patting  her  mother's  pale  cheek, 


r 

i 

1' 

1 

i 

I 


! 


88 


MEMOIR  OF   MRS.    COTE. 


said  ono  day  to  her, — "  God  will  take  you  up  to 
heaven,  and  you  will  have  no  more  pain,  and  sister 
Etta  will  be  Madame  Feller's  little  girl,  and  I  will 
go  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Normandeau.  I  shall  cry  for 
you,  but  I  shall  know  you  are  no  more  sick.'  Au- 
gusta now  insists  that  you  arc  all  mine^  ^  Eose  and 
all.' 

All  the  fountains  of  Madame  Feller's  large  heart 
are  opened  for  you  all.  I  told  Augusta  she  should 
love  two  mothers,  and  she  added,  *  One  papa,'  put- 
ting her  arms  in  her  own  fascinating  way  around 
Mr.  Normandeau's  neck.  Dear  little  ones,  they  lit- 
tle know  their  loss,  it  is  you,  dear,  and  Wolfrcd, 
who  will  feel  it  most  keenly.  You  have  my  sym- 
pathies, my  prayers,  for  I  well  know  your  feelings 
of  desolation.  Though  years  have  rolled  since  I 
was  written  motherless,  the  memory  is  fresh,  the 
heart  gushes  still.  I  well  know  that  you  can  have 
but  one  mother.  We  know  you  are  among  the  tru- 
est, tenderest  friends,  though  comparative  strangers. 
They  will  ever  be  precious  to  you  as  your  parents' 
friends.  One  short  year  has  taken  both  those  pa- 
rents from  you.  0  cruel  discipline  I  but  given  we 
know  in  love.  May  you  all,  dear  children,  receive 
it  at  a  Father's  hand,  and  bow  submissive  to  the 
rod,  drinking  the  bitter  cup,  as  your  ''ainted  mother 
said,  and  seeking  the  blessings  that  will  surely  ac- 
company such  chastisement.     Mr.  N.  begs  me  to 


MEMOIR   OF   MRS.    COTE. 


89 


give  you  his  love  and  sympatliy  in  this  trying  hour, 
and  that  your  soul  may  bo  abundantly  blessed  and 
filled  with  holy  consolation,  is  the  prayer  of  your 
eincere  friend  and  mother.  C.  A.  N. 

Wo  shall  close  this  sketch  with  the  words  of 
Madame  Feller,  in  her  letter  of  Nov.  4  th,  1851, 
referred  to  in  the  beginning,  addressed  to  the  aux- 
iliary Ladies'  Associations. 

'^Ladies  and  dear  Sisters: — Since  I  last  wrote 
you,  it  has  pleased  God  to  cause  us  to  pass  through 
affliction  and  mourning,  by  taking  to  Himself  our 
dear  sister,  Mrs.  Cote.  It  was  on  the  21^t  of  Sep- 
tember that  she  left  this  world,  after  a  short  sick- 
ness, during  which  she  edified  and  consoled  us. 
Firmly  established  upon  her  most  holy  faith,  fjhe 
waited  for  her  Saviour,  and  has  responded  with  joy 
to  His  call  to  pass  from  this  world  to  Ilini. 

*^  Our  beloved  sister  was  forty -four  years  old.  It 
was  ten  years  since  she  believed  in  Christ,*  and  not 
yet  a  year  since  the  companion  of  her  life  had  pre- 
ceded her  into  eternity. 

♦  We  have  been  informed  by  her  daughter  that  one  of  tho 
circumstances  which  forcibly  impressed  Mrs.  Cote's  mind 
on  first  joining  her  husband  at  Swanton  in  ISil,  was  tho 
sacred  observance  of  the  Sabbath  by  Protestant  Christians.  It 
was  new  to  her,  and  tended  greatly  to  remove  her  early  preju- 
dices, by  convincing  her  that  tboy  were  really  influenced  by 
the  fear  of  God.     This  is  a  fact  worth  remembering. 

8* 


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(716)  S72-4S03 


'^ 


^ 


90 


Memoir  op  mrs.  cote. 


"  And  now,  dear  sisters,  I  ask  your  sympathies 
and  your  prayers  for  our  dear  orphans,  and  for  those 
who  take  the  place  of  the  parents  they  have  lost, 
"  In  the  faith  and  love  of  Jesus, 

"  Your  aflfectionate  and  grateful, 

"Henriette  Feller/' 


m 


apathies 
•r  those 
lost. 


! 


:r. 


f> 


m 


HISTORY  OP   THE 


iranh  ligne  MIbbu 


a 


.  I !! 


(91) 


HISTOUY 

OF   THE 

GEANDE   LIGNE    MISSION. 

Canada,  as  all  are  aware,  was  discovered  and 
colonized  by  the  French  as  early  as  1608.  They 
brought  with  them  the  social  and  religious  institu- 
tions of  the  mother  country,  which,  as  plants  set 
in  a  new  and  rich  soil,  flourished  and  took  deep 
root.  The  political  institutions,  it  is  true,  under- 
went a  change  at  the  time  of  the  conquest  by 
Great  Britain ;  but  this  did  not  in  the  least  affect 
the  moral  condition  of  the  people.  They  were 
Roman  Catholics,  und  continued  so  to  be ;  and  the 
more  sincerely  and  truly,  as  the  poison  of  Infidelity 
was  neither  instilled,  nor  was  the  demoralization 
of  the  French  Revolution  felt  among  them.  Popery 
has  held  an  uninterrupted  and  undisputed  sway  in 
Canada  for  about  two  centuries,  and  has  had  a  fair 
chance  of  showing  what  it  can  do.  Its  fruits  have 
been  evident :  ignorance,  stagnation,  apathy,  super- 
Btition,  and  poverty  have  marked  its  reign.  In  a 
religious  point  of  view,  such  was  their  servitude  to 

(93) 


1  I 


04 


HISTORY   OF   THE 


if  i 


the  priests,  that  every  avenue  to  their  minds  and 
hearts  seemed  cfFectUi«My  and  hopelessly  closed, 
and  darkness,  gross  darkness,  covered  the  land. 
Like  ancient  Galilee,  before  the  Advent  of  Christ, 
the  people  sat  in  the  region  and  shadow  of  death. 

And,  what  may  seem  astonishing,  no  efforts  of 
any  consequence  had  been  made  to  evangelize  them, 
until  the  coming  of  the  Swiss  Missionaries.  This 
fact,  however,  can  easily  be  accounted  for  :  the  only 
people  that  could  have  attempted  this  work  spoke 
a  different  language,  and  moreover,  as  conquerors 
usually  are,  were  looked  upon  with  prejudice,  and 
oftentimes  with  hatred.  The  fact  of  their  being 
English  and  conquerors,  was  sufficient  to  exclude 
them  from  all  access  to  the  French  population. 

However,  God  had  designs  of  mercy  towards  the 
French  Canadian  people,  and  light  was  soon  to 
dawn  upon  them,  which  we  hope  will  set  no  more. 

.1. 

The  revival  of  religion,  with  which  Switzer- 
land was  visited  about  1820,  awakened,  as  it  always 
does,  a  missionary  spirit.  The  efforts  of  Chris- 
tians for  the  conversion  of  souls,  embraced  at  first 
their  fellow-countrymen,  then  their  neighbors,  the 
Romanists  of  France,  and  at  a  later  period  their 
attention  was  also  directed  towards  Canada.  It  is 
worthy  of  notice  here,  that  it  was  in  the  heart  of  an 


GRANDE   LIGNE   MISSION. 


95 


humble  "believer  that  the  zeal  for  the  conversion  of 
the  French  Canadians  was  first  kindled.  Impressed 
with  the  importance  of  sending  the  Gospel  to  this 
people,  he  would  saj  to  his  pastor  and  his  brethren  : 
*' Do  you  pray  for  Canada?  Oh!  let  us  pray  for 
Canada  !*' 

This  prayer,  so  evidently  the  fruit  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  was  soon  answered.  The  Eev.  11.  Olivier, 
pastor  of  a  Christian  church  at  Lausanne,  left  his 
native  country  in  1834,  for  this  country,  intending 
to  preach  the  Gospel  among  the  Indians.  But, 
seeing  that  the  French  population  was  deprived  of 
every  opportunity  of  becoming  acquainted  with  the 
Truth,  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  he  resolved  to  settle  at 
Montreal,  and  there  he  immediately  commenced 
his  missionary  labors.  He  began  to  preach  in  a 
school-house,  kindly  offered  to  him  by  the  Method- 
ists for  this  object. 

The  conversion  of  a  young  Canadian,  and  of 
seven  or  eight  Irish  Romanists  under  Mr.  Olivier's 
ministry,  and  their  union  with  the  Methodist  and 
Baptist  churches,  aroused  the  priests,  who  put  forth 
their  most  strenuous  efforts  in  order  to  kill  in  its 
germ  this  evangelistic  work.  The  irritation  among 
the  Irish  was  so  great  that  they  went  to  attack  the 
Baptist  church  with  the  determination  of  carrying 
off  a  young  Irish  woman  who  was  going  to  be 
baptized. 


96 


HISTORY  OP  THE 


The  French  Canadians  were  more  quiet;  never- 
theless the  effect  of  the  excitement  was  immediately 
felt.  The  congregation  began  to  decrease,  and  the 
services  in  the  school  house  had  to  be  abandoned 
for  want  of  hearers ;  from  that  time  Mr.  Olivier 
held  meetings  in  his  own  house,  but  these  were  not 
more  successful.  However,  he  had  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  two  other  individuals  converted  to  God, 
and  this  was  an  encouragement  and  an  earnest  of 
future  success. 

Mr.  Olivier,  notwithstanding  all  the  opposition 
and  difficulties  he  met  with  from  the  enemies  of 
the  Gospel,  felt  confident  that  a  wide  door  of  useful- 
ness was  opened,  and  he  felt  greatly  desi^-  that 
some  of  his  brethren  at  Lausanne  should  c  .^  and 
jo*  Im.  He  wrote  to  his  friends  in  Switzerland, 
placing  the  subject  before  their  minds,  and  urging 
them  to  consider  its  claims  upon  their  Christian 
charity. 

There  was  at  that  time  in  the  church  over  which 
Mr.  Olivier  had  been  placed,  a  lady  who  was  distin- 
guished for  piety  and  holy  zeal.  After  experience 
of  the  vanity  and  nothingness  of  worldly  pleasures, 
she  had  been  led  to  Christ,  and  had  taken  in  ear- 
nest the  profession  of  that  faith  which  worketh  by 
love.  In  imitation  of  the  example  of  her  blessed 
Redeemer,  she  went  about  doing  good;  visiting 
the  sick  and  the  afflicted,  and  administering  to 


GRANDE   LIGNE    MISSION. 


97 


them  the  sweet  consolations  of  the  Oospol.  Not 
avaricious,  as  many  professors  of  religion  appear  to 
be,  of  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  as  it  is  iu  Jesus, 
the  desire  of  her  heart  was  to  impart  the  good  news 
to  others.  She  reflected  with  emotion  on  the  sad 
condition  of  those  who  are  deprived  of  the  blessings 
of  true  religion,  and  felt  a  strong  desire  to  do  her 
part  towards  the  evangelization  of  the  unconverted. 
This  desire  became  a  decisive  call  after  the  death 
of  her  husband  and  of  her  only  child. 

It  is  interesting  to  trace  the  origin  of  the  prepa- 
ration of  this  Christian  lady  for  the  work  in  which 
she  has  been  so  abundantly  blessed.  "  Since  the 
death  of  the  good  husband  and  the  dear  child  which 
God  in  his  love  had  given  me,  and  in  his  love 
took  f^om  me,''  wrote  Madam  Feller  two  or  three 
years  after  her  coming  to  Canada,  "  my  heart  has 
been  filled  with  the  desire  of  being  devoted  exclu- 
sively to  the  service  of  the  Lord.  At  first,  I  sup- 
pressed this  sentiment,  w^iich  I  knew  w^^s  very 
contrary  to  the  taste  and  wishes  of  my  family ;  and 
also  because  I  was  afraid  of  deceiving  myself  in 
cherishing  it.  But  after  a  certain  time  I  w^as  con- 
vinced that  it  was  the  call  of  God,  and  resisted  it 
no  longer;  and  during  the  seven  or  eight  years 
which  followed,  I  bes  ought  the  Lord  continually  to 
open  before  me  the  way,  and  to  show  me  what  he 
would  give  me  to  do  in  his  service.     Quite  differ- 

9 


^1' 

In: 
■I   |; 


■  I 


I' 


■'   M 


98 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


;( 

V 

ii;    \ 


lb'::' 


ii. 


cut  business  occupioJ  me  during  this  time;  nothing 
however  could  satisfy  my  soul  but  the  love  and 
service  of  my  Saviour." 

"With  such  feelings  and  dispositions,  ^Madame 
Feller  was  likely  to  receive  Mr.  Olivier's  call. 
The  communications  of  Mr.  and  iMrs.  0.,  respect- 
ing the  idolatry,  ignorance,  and  abject  condition  of 
the  Canadian  people  took  strong  hold  upon  her 
heart.  This  people  which  spoke  her  native  tongue, 
soon  seemed  to  her  the  one  to  which  tho  Lord 
designed  to  send  her.  "  This  call,"  says  she,  "  coin- 
ciding with  the  expectation  of  my  faith  and  the 
circumstances  in  which  I  was  placed,  and  being  in 
answer  to  a  new  testimony  which  I  had  sought  of 
the  Lord,  I  was  convinced  that  it  was  his  will  that 
I  should  go  to  Canada,  and  I  accordingly  replied  to 
our  friends  that  I  would  go,  and  commenced  prepa- 
rations for  my  departure." 

Mr.  Louis  Roussy,  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  who 
had  also  been  led  to  choose  Canada  as  his  sphere 
of  labor,  concluded  to  start  at  the  same  time. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  August,  1835,  that  they 
set  out,  and  came  first  to  Havre  in  France,  from 
which  place  they  intended  to  sail  by  the  first  packet. 
But  owing  to  different  circumstances,  they  were 
obliged  to  wait  there  over  three  weeks. 

This  time  was  not  lost;  it  was  spent  in  spreading 
the  knowledge  of  the  truth.     Mr.  Roussy  did  the 


ikii 


GILVNDE   LIGNE   MISSION. 


90 


worlc  of  an  cvaii'ieHHt  ad  cMdportour  upon  the 
wharf  and  in  the  ships,  whilst  Madame  Feller  visited 
in  company  with  a  Christian  sister  a  number  of 
families,  to  whieh  she  endeavoured  to  do  good. 

They  were  able  to  sail  on  the  20th  of  Septem- 
ber. They  landed  at  New  York  after  a  happy 
voyage  of  thirty  days,  and  proceeded  immediately 
to  ]Montreal,  where  they  arrived  on  the  31st  of 
October,  1835. 

II. 

Ten  days  after,  an  opening  presented  itself. 
Mr.  lloussy  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  a  school 
on  the  Grande  Ligne^  of  Lacadie.  He  had  not 
come  with  the  intention  of  pursuing  the  calling 
of  a  school-master,  but  be  thought  this  situation 
would  afford  him  a  good  opportunity  of  laying  the 
foundation  for  future  usefulness  in  that  neighbor- 
hood, and  therefore  responded  cheerfully  to  the 
call.  As  for  Madame  Feller,  she  spent  the  winter 
at  Montreal.  In  conjunction  with  Madame  Olivier, 
she  opened  a  school  for  the  instruction  of  French 
Canadian  children.  Much  of  her  time  was  also 
spent  in  visiting  the  Roman  Catholics  in  their 
houses,  fur  the  purpose  of  reading  the  Scriptures, 

*  A  Grande  Ligne  in  Canada  is  a  street  generally  straight 
as  an  arrow,  from  five  to  seven  miles  in  length,  and  more  or 
less  remote  from  the  villages. 


If 


100 


HISTORY   OF   THE 


in 


and  conversing  with  tliom  on  the  truths  of  the 
Gospel.  ]5y  those  incjins,  she  obtained  lui  accurate 
knowkMlgo  of  the  Canadian  character,  aud  was  pre- 
pared for  her  subsequent  efforts. 

Upon  their  arrival,  Madame  Fcdler  and  Mr. 
lie  issy  had  found  jMr.  and  Mrs.  Olivier  sick — 
having  been  exceedingly  tried  ])y  the  climate. 
Their  feeble  health  continued  declining,  and  their 
physician  advised  them  to  return  without  delay  to 
Switzerland.  But,  before  taking  this  resolution,  a 
great  struggle  took  place  in  their  souls.  They 
could  not  consent,  they  thought,  to  leave  Madame 
Feller  upon  this  rude  and  strange  soil,  and  they 
never  would  have  been  able  to  persuade  her  to 
return  w^ith  them  to  their  dear  country.  "  I  was 
BO  sure  of  having  followed  Jesus  in  coming  to 
Canada,''  says  Madame  Feller,  "  that  no  human 
consideration  would  have  induced  me  to  leave.  I 
was  happier  in  remaining  there  alone  with  Ilim, 
than  I  would  have  been  in  following  my  best  and 
dearest  friends  in  returning  to  our  native  home.'' 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Olivier  had  to  start  alone.  God 
Lad  sent  them  to  Canada  to  lead  the  way  for  others, 
and  now  he  called  them  back  to  Switzerland. 
Humbly  bowing  down  before  this  mysterious  dis- 
pensation of  their  Heavenly  Father,  they  left  in 
the  month  of  May  of  the  following  year.  God 
admirably  sustained  Madame  Feller  in  this  trial. 


GIIANDE   LIGNE   MISSION. 


101 


in 
jod 
lal. 


She  says :  *^  I  hud  foreseen  before  leaving  Switzer- 
land the  possibility  of  being  plaecd  in  this  gitu- 
ution.     It  is  not  with  delusions  that  I  had  entered 
on  this  fine  career.     I  had  sat  down  to  count  the 
cost  before  buiMing  the  tower.     I  had  measured 
beforehand  all  the  difficulties  of  a  missionary  life, 
and  I  had  not  forgotten  isolation,  abandonment, 
poverty,  even  death  at  the  hospital.    I  could  not  then 
hesitate  a  moment  upon  the  course  to  pursue.    I  have 
come  to  this  country  to  labor  for  the  advancement 
of  the  kingdom  of  Christ ;  I  had  hoped  I  could  do 
so  v/ith  my  friends  Olivier;  but  since  it  is  not  the 
good  pleanure  of  my  Father,  I  will  cio  in  my  hum- 
ble sphere  what    lie  may  confide  to  my  hands. 
"When  I  call  to  mind  all  I  have  asked  of  the  Lord, 
I  do  not  \fonder  at  being  led  in  this  path,  as  for  a 
long  time  I  have  hungered  and    thirsted  to  live 
"with  Ilim  and  for  llim.  ...  Oh  !  how  favorable 
will   my  position    be  to  crucify  myself,  and  lead 
me  to  seek  the  fullness  of  Christ,  which  shall  real- 
ize that  for  which  I  have  so  much  sighed." 

Mr.  lloussy,  it  has  already  been  stated,  had 
undertaken  the  charge  of  a  school  in  the  parish  of 
Lacadie.  Keeping  constantly  in  view  the  object 
of  his  coming  to  Canada,  and  anxious  to  sec  souls 
brought  to  the  Saviour,  he  did  not  confine  his 
instractions  to  the  communication  of  general  know- 
ledge, but  embraqed  in  addition  the  truths  and 

9* 


102 


HISTORY   OF   THE 


i  ' 


^ 

1"^' 

1 

m 

1 

■■  1  •  ■ 

1 

ll 
! 
1 

^    • 

* 

■ 

> 

ui' 

'kMA 

duties  of  religion;  and  his  spare  time  was  em- 
ployed in  visiting  the  people,  and  making  known 
to  them,  in  a  familiar  manner,  the  way  of  salva- 
tion. One  day  as  he  was  by  the  bed-side  of  a 
poor  sick  man  to  whom  he  was  endeavoring  to 
point  out  Christ  crucified,  a  woman  present  was 
struck  with  what  he  spoke,  and  judging  he  might 
preach,  she  invited  him  to  go,  and  hold  a  meeting 
in  her  own  house  on  the  following  Sabbath.  He 
was  overjoyed  with  this  opening,  and  went  on 
the  Sabbath  evening,  as  he  had  agreed  to.  The 
neighbors  had  gathered,  and  ilie  house  was  full. 
Thev  listened  with  attention  and  interest  to  Mr. 
Roussy's  discourse,  and  invited  him  to  preach  again. 
He  appointed  the  Sabbath  and  Thursday  evenings, 
and  thus  was  sown  the  first  good  seed  from  which 
has  sprung  the  ever  progressing  and  increasing 
work  of  the  Grande  Ligne  Mission.  This  Sabbath 
in  which  the  Gospel  was  preached  in  its  purity 
to  attentive  and  anxious  hearers,  deserves  to  be 
remembered  in  the  religious  history  of  Canada,  and 
this  Ligne  will  ever  be  considered  Grande  (great,) 
for  it  has  been  marked  by  the  finger  of  God  himself, 
as  the  cradle  of  a  great  and  important  work. 

The  meetings  were  sustained  and  were  attended 
by  some  forty  persons.  But  the  priests,  informed 
of  these  labors,  began  to  preach  violently  against 
him,  calling  him  a  fool,  an  innov/itor,  a  heretic,  and 


! : 
t  >  t 


GRANDE   LIGNE   MISSION. 


103 


ich 


be 


all  their  fruitful  minds  could  suggest.  And  through 
their  efforts  and  influence  Mr.  lloussy  was  soon  dis- 
missed from  his  office.  He  wq<s  then  fully  at  liberty 
to  give  himself  to  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel. 

This  preaching,  notwithstanding  the  opposition 
of  the  Romish  clergy  of  the  neighborhood,  continued 
to  be  attended  by  several  persons,  and  it  was 
blessed  to  the  conversion  of  two  or  three  of  them. 
Mr.  Roussy  began  to  travel  extensively,  preaching 
the  Gospel  wherever  he  could  get  access  to  the 
people,  particularly  in  St.  Johns,  Sherington,  Na- 
pierville,  and  Henry  burgh. 

III. 

During  this  time  Madame  Feller  was  residing  at 
St.  Johns.  She  had  gone  there,  after  Mr.  Olivier's 
departure,  hoping  to  find  an  opportunity  for  useful- 
ness ;  but  her  endeavors  failed  of  success  through 
the  opposition  of  the  priest,  and  her  attention  was 
ultimately  directed  to  Grand  Ligne.  "  Judging," 
she  says,  "  it  would  be  best  to  associate  my  labors 
with  those  of  brother  Roussy  for  the  advancement 
of  the  kingdom  of  the  Lord,  I  visited  the  different 
places  where  he  was  received,  in  order  to  fix  upon 
one  where  I  might  station  myself.  In  going  to 
Grande  Ligne  twice  a  week,  I  soon  saw  that  this 
was  my  place.  Several  families  had  already  aban- 
doned Popery,  and  the  adults  as  well  as  the  children 


i   "I  I' 


'l     u 


104 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


I!       t; 


needed  a  school.  One  difficulty  was  the  want  of  a 
place  of  residence ;  there  was  not  a  single  house 
where  I  could  be  lodged.  The  family,  in  whose 
house  preaching  had  been  regnilarly  held,  oflPered. 
me  their  garret,  in  which  I  had  a  chamber  fitted  up 
of  20  feet  in  length,  10  in  width,  and  6  in  height. 


14' 


Hi 


The  Hoiise  in  which  Madamo  Feller  began  her  School. 

This  I  divided  into  two  apartments  that  it  might 
serve  for  a  bed-room  and  school-room.  The  prepa- 
ration of  this  diminutive  abode  was  for  me  an  act 
of  faith.  I  was  without  the  means  of  defraying 
the  expense,  as  all  that  I  possessed  had  been 
absorbed  by  the  purchase  of  what  was  indispensable 
for  keeping  house  upon  the  most  moderate  scale, 
and  aid  upon  which  I  had  calculated,  failed  me. 


i"l'i'l 


t  li 


GRANDE   LIGNE   MISSION. 


105 


|.    '  !■ 


But  these  difficulties  did   not   arrest   me  in   my 


fht 
)a- 
ict 

len 

)le 

n 

e. 


I  felt  assured  that  mv  task 


prepared 


course. 

at  Grande  Ligne,  and  that  my  Heavenly  Father 
intended  to  grant  me  a  shelter  there.  Unknown  to 
any  Missionary  Society,  sent  by  God  alone,  I  waited 
upon  Him,  and  according  to  his  promise  I  was  not 
confounded.  I  was  able  to  pay  for  fitting  up  my 
garret,  through  a  friend  of  the  Lord  and  of  my 
work,  who  loaned  me  the  necessary  sum.*' 

Madame  Feller  became  a  resident  at  Grande 
Ligne,  in  October,  1836.  She  immediately  opened 
a  school  with  twelve  children,  belonging  to  families 
that  had  left  the  Romish  church.  Soon  the  num- 
ber increased  to  twenty,  and  it  was  sustained  in 
spite  of  the  opposition  and  clamor  of  the  priests. 
It  was  a  season  of  arduous  yet  delightful  effort. 
At  nine  in  the  morning,  the  children  assembled  for 
instruction,  which  was  continued  until  noon,  re- 
sumed at  two  P.  M.,  and  closed  at  five.  Not  con- 
tent with  the  labor  of  instructing  the  children  in 
the  day,  she  opened  an  evening  school  for  adults, 
with  twelve  scholars;  in  addition  to  the  regular 
pupils,  a  considerable  number  attended  the  conclu- 
ding exercises,  which  consisted  of  the  reading  of 
the  Scriptures,  familiar  conversation  on  the  pas- 
sages read,  and  prayer.  So  interesting  were  these 
exercises,  that  they  were  often  prolonged  till  mid- 


li  t 


•I ' 


k) 


'15 


II  r: 


I 


it 


106 


HISTORY   OF  THE 


night,  and  were  eminently  effectual  in  enlightening 
the  minds  of  the  poor  Canadians. 

These  engagements,  together  with  visits  to  those 
in  the  neighborhood  who  were  willing  to  listen  to 
the  Gospel,  and  kind  attention  to  the  sick,  severely 
tasked  the  energies  of  the  missionaries  during  the 
winter.  In  the  following  June,  1837,  the  heat 
being  insupportable  in  the  garret,  the  exercises 
were  conducted  in  a  barn.  About  that  time  the 
Rev.  J.  Gilmour,  then  Pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church 
at  Montreal,  visited  the  Station,  and  being  deeply 
affected  by  the  inconveniences  and  privations  en- 
dured by  Madame  Feller,  undertook  to  provide 
some  suitable  accommodations.  As  a  temporary 
measure  a  small  house  was  erected,  chiefly  by  means 
of  contributions  from  Christian  friends  at  Montreal, 
Champlain,  and  Plattsburg,  which  was  ready  for 
occupation  in  the  month  of  October.  That  build- 
ing served  for  a  dwelling,  a  school-house,  and  a 
place  of  worship,  till  the  mission  house  was  com- 
menced in  the  Fall  of  1838. 

A  small  church,  organized  in  June,  1837,  and 
consisting  at  first  of  six  members,  numbered  in 
September  sixteen  communicants;  and  besides  these 
converts,  many  showed  favorable  dispositions  in 
regard  to  the  Gospel,  so  that  the  missionaries  began 
to  be  very  much  encouraged. 

The  Lour  of  trial,  however,  was  drawing  nigh. 


I  I 


GRANDE   LIONE   MISSION. 


107 


The  fire  of  persecution  was  soon  to  be  kindled 
against  them^  and  they  were  to  suffer  for  the 
Truth's  sake. 

In  the  course  of  October,  the  memorable  insur- 
rection  in  Canada  broke  out.  The  Catholics  around 
Grande  Ligne,  long  incensed  by  the  preaching,  the 
school,  and  the  success  of  these  devoted  mission- 
aries, and  supposing  that  the  law  could  no  longer 
punish  their  violence,  took  advantage  of  the  reign- 
ing confusion,  and  commenced  a  series  of  malignant 
outrages.  Mr.  Roussy  was  deliberately  shot  at, 
but  was  providentially  preserved.  A  mob  assem- 
bled around  the  house  of  Madame  Feller  at  night, 
to  the  number  of  several  hundreds,  who  with  fright- 
ful yells  and  horrid  imprecations,  ordered  the  mis- 
sionaries to  leave  the  country,  threatening  to  set 
fire  to  their  dwelling,  and  murder  them,  if  they 
should  refuse  to  comply.  In  the  same  manner  they 
went  to  the  houses  of  all  who  had  renounced  Popery, 
and  commanded  them  either  to  abandon  their  new 
religion  or  their  country,  under  pain  of  fire  and 
sword.  ' 

Such  disorder  prevailed  in  *  the  country,  that  the 
government  could  afford  them  no  protection;  and 
hence  after  serious  and  prayerful  consideration,  they 
unanimously  resolved  to  give  up  all,  and  flee  to  the 
United  States.  '^  On  the  first  of  November,^'  says 
^ladamc  Feller,  "  with  shocking  roads,  we  set  out^ 


I 


'if 


^^J^ 


108 


HISTORY   OP   THE 


sixty  in  number,  on  our  way  to  Champlain,  (N.  Y.,) 
where  we  hoped  to  find  our  city  of  refuge.  Our 
poor  friends  were  only  able  to  take  with  them  their 
small  baggage ;  all  their  crops  remained  behind,  and 
were  lost  to  them.  They  were  all  without  money ; 
those  who  had  only  a  cow  were  obliged  to  sell  it  in 
order  to  pay  the  entrance  duty  at  the  American 
custom  house.  To  human  view,  nothing  could  be 
more  sad  and  miserable  than  this  fugitive  band,  but 
to  the  Christian  eye,  it  had  its  bright  side,  as  it  was 
for  the  name  of  Jesus  that  it  was  reduced  to  such  a 
pitiable  condition. '' 

The  inhabitants  of  Champlain  provided  with 
great  liberality  for  the  urgent  wants  of  those  perse- 
cuted Christians,  and  were  especially  kind  to  Mad- 
ame Feller  and  Mr.  Roussy. 

At  the  expiration  of  two  months,  they  returned. 
All  their  dwellings  had  been  preserved,  but  the 
deepest  poverty  awaited  them,  as  their  crops  and 
furniture  had  been  mostly  carried  off  or  destro3^ed. 
Still  as  the  influence  of  the  priests  had  been  consid- 
erably weakened  by  the  political  events  and  dis- 
putes of  the  preceding  year,  and  as  the  mission  was 
enabled,  in  the  spirit  of  Christian  kindness,  to  pro- 
tect some  of  their  own  worst  enemies  from  the  retri- 
bution of  re-established  law,  prejudices  against 
them  were  diminished,  and  their  influence  among 
the  people  greatly  increased.  Many  families  hitherto 


GRANDE  LIGNE   MISSION. 


109 


closed  against  tlicra,  became  accessible  to  the  preach- 
ing of  the  Gospel. 

The  labors  of  the  mission  proceeded  with  in- 
creasea  success,  during  the  year  1838 — 3Ir.  lloussy 
being  actively  engaged  in  preaching  at  various  sta- 
tions, and  Madame  Feller  in  the  school,  and  in  pri- 
vate visitation.  But  in  the  month  of  November, 
civil  war  again  broke  out  around  them,  and  their 
neighborhood  became  the  scene  of  revolutionary 
operations.  A  prominent  leader  of  the  insurgents, 
who  had  always  cherished  deep  hostility  to  the  mis- 
sion, sent  a  band  of  armed  horsemen  to  make  Mr. 
Roussy  a  prisoner,  and  bring  him  to  the  camp. 
Through  the  appeals  of  Madame  Feller,  the  angry 
troop,  wdio  came  to  the  house  full  of  rage,  were 
softened  and  conciliated;  they  left  Mr.  R.  in  his 
own  house,  and  pledcred  themselvcif.  that  neither 
they  nor  their  property  should  be  molested  during 
the  war.  The  pledge  given,  was  literally  redeemed. 
While  all  around  them  were  pillaged,  and  all  who 
refused  to  join  the  insurgents  voluntarily,  were  cru- 
elly taken  prisoners,  by  the  kind  providence  of  God 
the  mission  family  and  property  were  untouched. 
When  the  disturbance  ceased,  they  were  enabled  to 
be  of  essential  service  to  great  numbers  of  the 
Canadians,  by  their  testimony  before  the  magis- 
trates, and  the  consequence  was  a  gratifying  in- 
crease of  influence  to  the  mission.     AVonicn,  with 

10 


It, 
Ii 


1* 

.'  ii'. 


I  III 


;:5i 


/ 


:'!  111 


110 


HISTORY   OF   THE 


m 


■whom,  till  then,  they  had  had  little  or  no  inter- 
course, came  to  31adaiuc  Feller,  entreating  her 
with  tears,  to  use  her  influence  to  deliver  their  sons 
and  husbands  from  arrest  and  danger. 

IV. 

The   need   of   a  Normal    School,   to   train    up 
young  persons  for  teachers  and  colporteurs,   was 
now  deeply  felt,  as  well  as  of  a  building  suitable 
for  such  an  institution.     The  missionaries  saw  how 
important  it  was  to  educate  Canadian  converts,  who, 
according  to  their  ability,  would  labor  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  God's  kingdom  among  their  fellow 
countrymen ;  and  after  due  consideration,  purchased 
a  piece  of  land,  and,  with  a  faith  of  which  there 
are  but  few  instances  in  the  world,  commenced  to 
build  upon  it.     Neither  individuals,  nor  societies 
had  pledged  themselves  to  aid  such  an  undertaking, 
but  they  felt  askired  it  was  of  God,  and  nothing 
doubting  they  looked  to  Him   for   the  necessary 
means.     The  building,  fifty-eight  feet  in  length  by 
thirty-eight  in  width,  was  erected  through  the  lib- 
erality of  Christian  friends,  of  various  denomina- 
tions, especially  in  the  United   States;  for  which 
liberality  the  mission  was  mostly  indebted  to  the 
Hgv.  E.    N.   Kirk,  of  Boston.     This  gentleman, 
feeling  a  lively  interest  in  this  enterprise,  travelled 
with  Madame  Feller,  recommending  her  warmly  to 


mi 


GRANDE   LIGNE   MISSION. 


Ill 


the  Christian  ladies  of  Boston,  Now  York,  Philadel- 
phia and  other  places,  and  was  enniieutly  succcssfal 
in  securing  funds,  as  they  were  needed. 

The  Mission  House,  commenced  in  the  Summer 
of  1838;  was  set  apart  for  the  cause  of  God,  on  the 
9th  of  August,  1840.  My.  Kirk  preached  the  ser- 
mon, on  the  words  : — TJie  i^f^^p^f^'^f-'hidi  sat  in  darh- 
nessj  saio  fjrcat  lijlit ;  and  to  them  zchich  sat  m  the 
region  and  shadow  of  death,  Ihjht  is  sjirung  np. — 
(Mat.  iv.,  16.)  He  dwelt  eloquently  upon  the 
evangelical  light,  which  had  begun  to  dawn  upon 
benighted  Canada,  and  the  need  of  its  divine  rays 
for  every  soul.  Other  ministers  engaged  in  the 
services  of  this  occasion,  which  were  exceedingly 
interesting,  and  greatly  blessed. 

After  the  erection  of  the  Mission  House,  the 
good  Providence  of  God  was  strikingly  manifested 
in  providing  a  teacher  for  the  new  institution.  3Ir. 
Normandeau,  a  Priest  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  had  been  eni^ao-ed  as  Professor  in  the 
Seminary  at  Quebec  for  five  years.  After  a  long 
season  of  doubt  and  anxiety  on  the  subject  of 
religion,  being  then  in  the  neighborhood  of  Grande 
Ligne,  he  sought  the  aid  of  the  Missionaries,  and 
by  their  instrumentality  was  led  to  receive  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  He  engaged  immediately 
in  the  good  work,  and  was  received  as  a  fellow 
laborer  with  much  joy  and  gratitude.     Eeferring  to 


I      ! 


.   II' 


1    ,  ' 

1 

1 
1 

1 

ilil 


'-I  li 


112 


HISTORY   OP   THE 


Ml     ' 


this  event  ^ladamc  Feller  observed,  in  a  letter  to  a 
friend  at  New  York: — '^Our  oldest  pnpils  had 
readied  a  point  beyond  which  they  could  proceed 
no  further ',  more  advanced  instruction  had  becomo 
necessary,  and  it  gave  me  pain  to  see  the  impost' 
bility  of  attending  myself  to  their  lessons,  with  the 
multitude  of  other  duties  to  fill  up  my  days.  I 
was  often  obliged  either  to  break  off  from  a  recita- 
tion already  begun,  or  to  keep  persons  waiting  who 
had  come  from  several  leagues  distant;  and  this 
conflict  was  of  every  day's  occurrence.  Mr.  Iloussy, 
less  occupied  with  details,  could  more  easily  appro- 
priate a  few  hours  to  the  scholars,  but  absence  from 
home,  journeys  and  preaching,  made  it  impossible 
to  observe  regularity,  ai^d  the  prospect  befijre  us 
presented  only  confusion  and  disorder,  while  wo 
never  felt  so  much  the  need  of  system  and  order  in 
our  school.  Often  we  spread  before  the  Lord  our 
solicitude,  entreating  him  to  send  prompt  relief, 
and  in  our  little  faith  we  thought  He  could  only 
answer  us  by  sending  out  some  one  from  Switzer- 
land :  and  behold,  our  God,  so  full  of  goodness, 
in  order  to  encourage  our  ^dith,  has  given  us  what 
we  dared  not  even  ask  for — a  priest,  converted  under 
our  own  roof,  as  a  brother,  friend,  and  fellow 
laborer.^' 

Reviewing  the  history  of  the  first  five  years  of 
the  Mission,  in  a  letter  dated  November  1,  1841, 


GRANDE  LIONE    MISSION. 


113 


m 
ir 


Mr.  Roussy  observed,  "  What  a  difference  in  our 
present  position,  in  our  prosperity,  in  our  hopes; 
in  fine,  in  every  thing !  Then  (1830)  we  were  but 
two  poor,  feeble,  weary  beings;  our  dwelling  was 
a  miserable  cabin,  where,  with  our  first  converts, 
we  worshiped  God.  We  held  a  school  in  a  l)arn ; 
and  the  enemy,  in  order  to  destroy  this  feeble  com- 
mencement at  a  blow,  drove  us  all  out  together. 
But  now,  behold  us  in  a  good  and  commodious 
stone  house,  founded  by  faith,  and  built  by  tho 
gold  and  silver  of  the  children  of  the  Lord;  in 
which  are  a  beautiful  chapel,  two  school  rooms,  an 
educational  institution,  where  are  instructed  and 
supported  eleven  pupils,  all  converted,  and  pre- 
paring for  the  work  of  (jrod,^and  with  tho  prospect 
of  having  a  greater  number  soon  ;  sixty  Canadians, 
who  have  given  their  hearts  to  Jesus,  and  a  goodly 
number  of  others  rescued  from  the  papacy.  Oh ! 
what  favors  !  what  abundance  of  grace  !" 

V. 

A  new  field  of  activity  was  opened,  the  fol- 
lowing year,  in  St.  Pie  and  its  neighborhood — 
a  parish  forty-five  miles  east  of  Grande-Ligno. 
It  pleased  God  to  kindle  the  light  of  the  Gospel  in 
that  district,  by  means  of  a  New  Testament  given 
to  a  man  of  that  place  by  Mr.  Roussy,  and  of  a 
Bible  given  to  a  woman  by  her  son,  a  young  man 

10* 


114 


IIISTOUY  OP  THE 


I. 


employfMl  in  ^Iiissjicliusetts.  These  two  possoHsors 
of  the  Wordof  Life  met,  and  conversed  tof^cthcr  on 
the  auhjcct  of  religion.  They  both  arrived  at  tho 
conviction  tliat  thijy  were  not  in  the  right  way. 
And,  anxious  to  become  acquainted  with  the  Truth, 
the  man  went  to  Grande  Ligne  for  instructions, 
where  he  stayed  three  weeks.  During  that  time  he 
was  converted,  and  when  he  had  returned  home,  he 
hastened  to  tell  the  inquiring  woman  what  great 
things  the  Lord  had  done  for  him.  One  of  her 
eons,  who  lieard  of  this  man*s  religious  experience, 
spoke  of  it  to  a  neighbor,  and  he  to  another ;  tho 
result  of  which  was,  that  all  those  persons  soon 
became  concerned  for  their  souls,  and  invited  Mr. 
Iloussy  to  come  imd  teach  them  what  they  must  do 
to  be  saved.  Mr.  Roussy  lost  *io  time  in  complying 
with  their  invitation,  and  fifteen  to  twenty  persons 
assembled  to  hear  what  he  had  to  say  to  them  from 
God ;  who  gave  efficacy  to  his  Word  for  doctrine, 
for  reproof,  and  for  instruction.  Eight  of  them 
immediately  abandoned  the  Romish  church,  whose 
error  had  just  been  exhibited  to  them,  and  joy- 
fully submitted  to  the  teachings  of  the  Bible. 

St.  Pie  was  alternately  visited  by  Messrs.  Roussy^ 
Norman Jeau  and  Callier,  and  the  good  work  con- 
tinued to  go  on  and  prosper.  During  the  summer, 
a  school  was  opened  in  a  small  room  lent  by  one 
of  the  converted  families,  in  which  the  meeting  were 


GRANDE   LIONE   MISSION. 


115 


also  held.  The  erection  of  a  buikliiif^  for  the  uso 
of  the  Mission  becunic  nrgent;  and  tliu  inissioiuiries 
looking  to  the  ^<  15ank'^  of  their  Jleavouly  Father 
received  the  necessary  funds  for  this  object 

VI. 

The  joyful  sound  of  the  Gospel  had  also 
been  heard  at  Berea,  in  the  township  of  IMilton, 
some  twelve  miles  from  St.  Pie.  Mr.  IJenudin,  a 
Canadian  converted  in  the  United  States,  and  thru 
engaged  in  the  field  of  the  Grande  Ligne  iMission, 
had  labored  for  a  year  past  among  the  people  of 
that  settlement.  But  the  time  for  an  extra  effort 
seemed  to  have  come,  and  Dr.  Cote  (whose  Life 
precedes  this  sketch)  was  called  to  undertake  the 
task.  lie  went  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  dwellers 
in  those  woods,  whose  lives  were  very  profligate. 
He  was  accompanied  by  Mr.  Beaudin.  They  were 
two  days,  says  Mr.  Roussy,  in  reaching  the  school- 
house,  a  distance  which,  in  the  winter,  can  be 
walked  in  three  hours.  The  autumn  rains  had 
rendered  the  paths  through  these  woods  so  ciifficult, 
»that  nothing  but  the  zeal  of  our  brethren  could 
have  surmounted  the  obstacles  in  their  way. 
Though  exhausted  with  fatigue  on  their  arrival, 
they  made  no  delay  in  applying  themselves  with 
vigor  to  their  work.  After  kindling  a  fin?,  they 
cut  down  a  tree  to  serve  at  once  for  a  table,  and 


116 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


Beats  for  their  audience ;  put  up  a  temporary  bed  in 
one  corner  of  their  school-room;  and  commenced 
their  protracted  meeting.  For  the  first  few  days 
there  were  no  visible  effects,  though  they  held  two 
meetings  daily.  All  the  people,  men,  women,  and 
even "  small  children,  readily  assembled ;  no  one 
remained  at  home.  The  intervals  between  the 
meetings  were  employed  in  reconciling  quarrels; 
for  these  families,  who  had  lived  in  continual  strife 
and  hatred  towards  each  other,  perceived  the  neces- 
sity of  first  harmonizing  their  differences,  in  order 
to  obtain  the  blessing  of  Heaven.  Our  dear  bro- 
ther Cote,  who  performed  the  office  of  peacemaker, 
had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  them  acknowledge  their 
faults  one  to  another,  and  interchange  the  language 
of  forgiveness.  On  Sunday  each  one  came  to  the 
meeting  with  feelings  of  penitence,  and  in  expecta- 
tion of  the  Divine  blessing.  The  exposition  of  the 
Scriptures  was  listened  to  with  marked  solemnity ; 
and  when  those  who  wished  were  invited  to  speak,  a 
female,  naturally  timid  and  retiring,  rose  and  spoke 
of  the  wants  of  her  soul,  of  the  love  of  God,  and  of 
the  duty  of  repentance,  with  such  animation,  free- 
dom and  energy,  that  each  one  grew  pale  and 
trembled.  After  addressing  them  in  most  im- 
pressive language,  she  fell  on  her  knees,  and, 
weeping,  poured  out  her  heart  in  fervent  prayer  for 
herself  and  all  present.     The  whole  assembly  melted 


11 

t 


GRANDE   LIGNE   MISSION. 


117 


I 


into  tears,  and,  believing  that  she  spoke  and  prayed 
under  the  teachings  of  God's  Spirit,  bowed  their 
knees  and  successively  offered  their  earnest  sup- 
plications to  God  for  pardon.  Our  friends,  Cote 
and  Beaudin,  were  filled  with  sacred  awe,  and 
inexpressible  emotions  of  gratitude,  at  the  sight  of 
this  little  company  of  Canadians  humbled  and 
weeping  before  the  throne  of  the  heavenly  grace. 
This  meeting,  which  continued  almost  until  night, 
was  followed  by  another  in  the  evening ;  which  was 
still  more  blessed  than  the  first.  The  text,  "  Come 
now 'and  let  us  reason  together,  saith  the  Lord," 
(Isa.  i.  18,)  was  attended  with  power  to  their 
hearts ;  the  love  of  God  subdued  them ;  tears  flowed 
in  abundance;  and  most  of  them,  in  anguish  for 
their  sins,  cried,  with  the  Publican,  "  God  be  mer- 
ciful to  me  a  sinner ;"  and  with  the  Jailer,  "  What 
must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?"  How  delightful  was  it  to  pre- 
sent to  these  souls,  anxious  for  salvation,  "  the  Lamb 
of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world." 
They  separated  at  a  late  hour;  and  many,  in  the 
deep  distress  of  their  hearts,  spent  the  whole  night 
wrestling,  like  Jacob,  with  the  Lord  until  he  had 
blessed  them.  And,  God  be  praised,  he  was  found 
of  many,  who  came  in  the  morning  with  lively  joy 
to  declare  the  boundless  grace  which  they  had 
experienced. 

"  This  happy  Sabbath  was  the  commencement  of 


1 1> 


( '.1' 


i:'> 

I 

1 1 


I  i 


118 


HISTORY   OF   THE 


a  happy  week,  devoted  to  the  reading  of  the  Word 
of  God,  to  prayer  and  to  praise.  No  one  could 
apply  himself  to  any  work,  for  the  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  visited  these  cabins.  Every  day  some  soul 
was  relieved  of  the  burden  of  sin  by  trusting  in 
Christ.  Twenty-five  persons,  as  we  hope,  obtained 
pardon  and  peace  at  this  time,  making,  with  the 
first  converts,  the  number  of  twenty-nine  worshipers 
and  followers  of  Christ  in  this  forest.  Among  the 
converts  were  some  who  had  been  exceedingly 
abandoned,  and  capable  of  any  atrocities ;  and  who, 
at  the  commencement  of  the  meetings,  oiFered  gross 
insults  to  our  brother  Beaudin,  but  whom  he  had 
disarmed  and  conquered  by  patience  and  forbearance. 
One  of  them  hated  him  so  violently,  that  he  had 
resolved  to  beat  him  in  such  a  manner  that  he 
should  have  no  wish  to  return  to  these  woods;  but 
not  daring  to  do  it  in  cold  blood,  he  followed  him, 
with  insults,  for  the  purpose  of  provoking  him  to 
say  or  do  something  which  might  excite  his  anger, 
and  make  it  easy  to  execute  his  design.  But  as  he 
only  replied  to  him  in  mild  language,  or  kept  silent, 
he  was,  at  every  attempt,  entirely  defeated.  His 
wife,  who  was  one  of  the  first  to  embrace  the  gospel, 
urged  him  to  listen  to  reading  and  change  his 
course ;  but,  wearied  with  the  repetition  of  a  sub- 
ject which  he  detested,  and  vexed  because  his  wife 
had  become  a  Christian,  he  determined  to  abandon 


P' 


GRANDE   LIGNE   MISSION. 


119 


to 


his  family  and  depart  to  the  States,  that  he  might 
shun  these  annoyances.  lie  had  not  proceeded 
two  leagues  when,  stricken  in  conscience,  he  re- 
traced his  steps,  came  and  acknowledged  his  sins, 
and  besought  them  to  pray  for  him.  In  a  few  days 
after,  he  found  joy  and  peace  in  believing.'' 

VII. 

A  Mission  House  was  built  at  St.  Pie  and  a  log 
school-house  at  Berea  in  1842,  which  were  both 
consecrated  to  God  on  the  25th  of  December  of  the 
same  year.  We  extract  from  a  letter  sent  by  Mr. 
lloussy  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Evangelical  Society, 
of  New  York  the  following  interesting  account  of 
these  services. 

"  We  made  our  arrangements,"  says  Mr.  R.,  "  to  go 
and  consecrate  the  house  for  a  school  and  for  wor- 
ship, at  St.  Pie,  and  also  that  at  Milton,  (Berea.) 
We  went  as  a  femily-party,  leaving  at  Grande- 
Ligne  only  a  sufficient  number  to  take  care  of  the 
house.  Christmas  day  had  been  appointed  for  the 
meeting,  and  at  an  early  hour  one  hundred  Cana- 
dians and  twenty  English,  with  their  pastor,  had 
assembled  to  meet  us. 

It  was  with  ardent  Christian  feeling  that  we 
entered  upon  the  occupation  of  this  ^^  house  of 
prayer,''  in  the  name  of  our  eternal  God — Father, 
Son,  and  Spirit;  entreating  Him  to  consecrate  it, 


I  '■ 


120 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


m 


and  make  it  a  ceutre  of  heat  and  light  for  this 
country.  Our  hearts  were  moved ;  and  with  lively 
emotion  we  returned  thanks  to  God  for  all  that  he 
has  done  for  us  in  so  short  a  time.  It  would  have 
delighted  us  if  you,  dear  brother,  and  a  goodly 
number  of  our  American  and  Swiss  friends  could  have 
been  present  with  us.  T^ey  who  have  labored  and 
prayed  so  earnestly  for  our  poor  Canadians,  would 
have  felt  grateful,  and  encouraged  to  still  further 
efforts,  by  seeing  them  gathered  at  the  feet  of  Jesus 
to  receive  his  word;  an  attentive  group  of  those 
who,  but  a  year  and  a  half  since,  were  buried  in  the 
darkness  of  superstition.  We  held  three  meetings 
on  the  Sabbath,  and  two  on  Monday,  and  God 
gi'anted  to  us  delightful  evidences  of  his  presence. 
After  the  exposition  of  the  Scriptures  at  the  evening 
service,  a  free  invitation  to  speak  was  given  to  those 
present;  and  successively  fifteen  individuals  of 
every  age  and  condition  addressed  us  in  words 
which  thrilled  our  hearts  with  lively  joy.  Here 
was  a  man  asking  "  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  V* 
There,  one  beseeching  us  to  pray  for  him,  that 
God  would  convert  and  save  him.  Another  ex- 
horted his  brethren,  recently  converted,  to  grati- 
tude and  holiness  of  life.  A  fourth,  related  to  us 
what  sweet  peace  of  soul  he  had  enjoyed  since  he 
gave  his  heart  to  God.  At  last,  a  father  of  a  family 
and  his  wife  who  had  once  listened  to  the  gospel, 


!i;: 


GRANDE  LIGNE   MISSION. 


121 


I  r 


but  for  several  months  had  neglected  it,  came, 
bathed  in  tears,  entreating  us  to  receive  them  as 
prodigals ;  asking  pardon  from  God  for  the  evil  they 
had  done  to  his  church ;  pardon  from  the  children 
of  God  for  having  so  deeply  grieved  th^em ;  pardon 
from  the  unconverted,  for  the  occasion  of  reproach 
they  had  given  to  them.  Oh,  how  delightful  was 
that  evening !  What  heavenly  language  flowed 
from  the  lips  of  all !  The  Spirit  hovered  over  us, 
and  we  blessed  the  love  of  God  toward  these  poor 
sinners.  Those  who  knew  the  Saviour,  wished  to 
fly  to  his  arms,  to  be  purified  wholly,  and  to  enjoy 
his  presence  eternally.  How  holy  was  the  place  I 
It  was  truly  the  house  of  God — the  gate  of  Heaven. 
On  Tuesday  morning,  ten  sleighs,  carrying  forty 
persons,  all  animated  with  joy  and  peace,  started 
for  Berea,  where  we  were  received  vrith  acclama- 
tions of  delight  and  gratitude.  Never  before  have 
those  woods  had  so  many  visiters.  All  was  life  and 
animation.  Our  dear  Bereans  came  to  us  rejoicing, 
to  describe  to  us  their  happiness  in  the  wonderful 
grace  of  God  towards  them.  More  than  eiylity  were 
present,  and  we  had  two  meetings,  one  at  evening  and 
the  other  on  Wednesday  morning,  at  which  we  were 
blessed  with  the  same  favor  that  the  Lord  had  be- 
stowed on  this  place  several  weeks  previous,  when  he 
consecrated  it  to  himself,  filling  it  with  his  presence. 
It  was  a  thanksgiving,  rather  than  a  dedication.     It 

11 


I  !! 


I,: 


•:  ii 


i  111 


I  * 


122 


HISTORY   OF   THE 


r 


was  edifying  to  us  to  hear  many  of  these  new  dis- 
ciples, aged  men  and  women,  exjDress,  in  their 
Canadian  dialect,  the  sentiments  of  their  hearts. 
Each  spoke  with  emotion  of  the  love  of  Jesus  who 
had  arrested  them  in  their  career  of  folly  and  ruin, 
and  plucked  them  as  brands  from  the  flames.  The 
intelligence,  piety,  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures  and 
of  the  way  of  salvation,  which  many  manifested, 
surprised  us  all.  Evidently  the  Spirit  of  Christ 
had  instructed  them,  and  what  teacher  can  instruct 
like  him  ?" 

VITI. 

It  was  evident  that  St.  Pie  would  become  an 
important  station,  and  it  was  exceedingly  desirable 
that  a  preacher  should  occupy  it.  Dr.  Cote 
was  chosen  for  this  post. 

A  residence  of  two  years  at  Chazy,  where  he 
had  labored  as  a  missionary,  had  prepared  him  for 
more  ext^insive  engagements  and  greater  usefulness. 
He  removed  to  St.  Pie  in  October,  1843,  and 
entered  on  a  course  of  diligent  labor,  whic]i  was 
abundantly  blessed. 

A  violent  persecution  had  arisen  a  little  before 
against  the  converts  of  this  place,  of  which  a  brief 
account  must  here  be  given. 

For  some  time  the  priests  of  that  neighborhood 
had  been  actively  cngjiged  in  exciting  the  enmity 


GRANDE   LIGNE    MISSION. 


123 


■I  I 


of  tlicir  people  agtiin  *■  tlie  protestant  Cliristian?<. 
The  priest  of  St.  l*ie  especially  had  inaiiifestecl,  at 
intervals,    much   ardor   in    re})resenting    them   aa 
hypocrites,  seducers,  and  people  sold  to  wickedness. 
Finally,  excited  more  and  more,  the  villagers  deter- 
mined to  set  themselves  against  the  Protestants. 
They  availed  themselves  for  this  purpose,  of  a  littlo 
meeting  held  on  the  evening  of  Sunday,  the  27th 
of  August.     Messrs.  Iloussy  and  Cote,  who  were  pre- 
sent, heard  that  the  llomanists  intended  to  come 
and  give  them  a  cliarivan.'^     Very  soon,  a  number 
of  young  persons  assembled  before  the  house,  and 
commenced  making  their  horrible  noise,  to  the  great 
satisfaction  of  the  crowd  whom  they  drew  around 
them.     "\Ye  went  out,"   says  Mr.   Roussy,   "to 
speak  to  them,  and  they  replied  to  us  by  a  shower 
of  stones.     This  was  the  beginning  of  charivaries 
and  of  violent  scenes,  which  lasted  fourteen  days 
and  which  terminated  with  burning  the  house  of 
one  of  our  brethren. '^ 

They  appealed  to  the  protection  of  the  law,  and 
the  guilty  were  so  punished  as  not  to  renew  their 
outrages,  and  at  the  same  time  to  see  that  the  Pro- 
testants, animated  with  the  spirit  of  Christ,  were 
ready  to  forgive,  whilst  they  claimed  the  rights  to 


;  1' 


)d 


^  A    serenade   with   horns,    pans,    and    other    discordant 
instruments. 


!i 


I 


124 


HISTORY   OF   THE 


: 


which  they  were  legally  entitled.  Dr.  Cote's  medical 
advice  was  asked  for  by  some  of  the  persecutors, 
and  as  it  was  readily  and  gratuitously  granted,  they 
were  led  to  reflect  on  the  happy  influence  of  the 
Gospel,  and  to  inquire  after  the  truth.  So  that  all 
contributed  to  the  glory  of  God  in  the  advancement 
of  his  blessed  kingdom. 

A  church  was  organized  at  St.  Pie  in  1844,  and 
a  call  tendered  to  Dr.  Cote,  who  accepted,  and  was 
ordained  on  the  30th  of  August  of  the  same  year. 
The  llev.  Dr.  Baird  of  New  York,  and  the  Ilev. 
Messrs  Wilkes  and  Tanner,  of  Montreal,  with  other 
ministers  engaged  in  the  exercises  of  the  day. 

During  these  second  five  years  of  the  jMission's 
operations,  some  thirty  persons  were  brought  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  Saviour  under  Dr.  Cote's  minis- 
trations at  Chazy.  By  the  blessing  of  God  upon 
his  labors  at  St.  Pie  many  more  were  converted,  so 
that  upwards  of  one  hundred  persons,  affording 
satisfactory  proof  of  repentance  towards  God,  and 
faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  were  received  into 
church-fellowship  in  that  place ;  and  these  numbers 
added  to  the  converts  at  Grande-Ligne  and  its 
neighborhood,  presented  a  total  of  about  three 
hundred  souls,  rescued  from  ignorance  and  sin,  and 
introduced  into  that  kingdom  which  is  "  righteous- 
ness; peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost.^' 


V 


GRANDE   LIGNE   IMISSION. 


125 


IX. 

If  we  now  glance  at  the  last  five  years'  success, 
from  1846  to  1851,  we  find  that  the  missionaries 
and  the  supporters  of  the  Mission  have  abundant 
reason  to  bless  God,  and  feel  encouraged.  During 
that  period  about  a  hundred  individuals  have  been 
hopefully  converted  to  God,  and  added  to  the 
churches,  in  the  diiTerent  stations.  New  missiona- 
ries have  entered  the  field,  new  instrumentalities 
have  been  used,  so  that  a  broader  foundation  for 
future  usefulness  has  been  laid,  and  an  important 
preparatory  work  accomplished. 

In  1849,  a  new  station  was  opened  at  St.  Mary, 
a  parish  twenty  miles  east  of  Grande  Ligne,  where 
several  individuals  had  manifested  an  interest  in 
religion.  Dr.  Cote,  who  resigned  his  pastorate  of 
the  St.  Pie  church,  in  consequence  of  a  collecting 
tour  in  the  United  States,  was  sent  there  after  his 
return  to  Canada. 

He  met  at  first  with  great  opposition  from  the 
priests.  It  was  carried  so  far,  that  one  day  some 
eighty  individuals,  at  the  head  of  whom  was  their 
pastor,  actually  came  to  destroy  his  house  and 
drive  him  away ;  but  were  prevented  from  making 
an  attack  by  the  earnest  expostulations  of  the 
neighbors.  Notwithstanding  this,  his  efi'orts  were 
much  blessed.    The  congregation  gradually  increased, 


if 


11 


* 


126 


HISTORY   OF   THE 


I 


and  souls  wore  converted.  Fiftcion  fiiniIH"S,  mostly 
in  good  circunistiinces,  left  ^llic  Koniisli  church 
to  follow  the  Truth,  us  it  is  in  Jesus.  They  united  in 
buildin<^  a  largo  chapel,  to  the  erection  of  which 
they  have  generously  contributed. 

In  June  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  N.  Cyr,  one  of 
the  fruits  of  the  Mission,  after  graduating  at  tho 
Theological  School  of  Geneva,  returned  to  Canada 
to  engage  in  the  ]Missionary  work.  And  in  Sep- 
tember the  year  following,  Mr.  T.  Lafleur  who 
had  also  gone  to  the  same  institut^v^n,  joined  his 
brethren  and  friends  of  the  Grande  Ligne  Mission. 

The  Mission  had  to  record  with  sorrow  about 
this  time  (October,  1850,)  the  death  of  one  of  its 
devoted  laborers.  Dr.  Cote.  He  was  called  unex- 
pectedly to  his  reward,  at  a  time  when  his  services 
might  have  been  so  exceedingly  useful  at  St.  Mary. 
In  bowing  submissive!}  to  this  mysterious  dispen- 
sation of  their  heavenly  Father,  they  were  happy  to 
see  that  his  kind  providence  had  provided  in  Mr. 
Lafleur  a  new  laborer  to  fill  up  this  vacancy. 

Mr.  Lafleur  was  ordained  to  the  ministry,  March 
19, 1851.  Mr.  Cyr  preached  the  sermon  from  Horn. 
X.  1-3.  In  expressing  his  pleasure  at  seeing  his 
friend  consecrate  himself  publicly  to  tho  service  of 
the  Lord,  he  made  a  touching  allusion  to  the  time 
of  their  conversion ;  he  called  to  mind  that  it  was 
ten  years  since  together  they  had  left  the  Romish 


GRANDE    LTOXE    MISSION. 


127 


Church,  that  it  was  together  they  had  commenced 
the  study  of  the  ]{il)k',  and  had  otlered  to  (iod  their 
first  i)raycr.  3Ia(hiinc  Feller  says,  "  I  was  over- 
come with  joy  in  seeing  one,  whom  I  hud  watched 
over  as  a  pupil  and  loved  as  a  son,  enter  this  holy 
career.'' 

As  a  new  token  of  the  providing  care  of  our 
Heavenly  Father,  they  have  welcomed  Mr.  Charles 
lloux,  late  student  in  Geneva,  who  joined  the 
missionary  band  in  July  1851.  Mr.  lloux  was 
baptized  in  November.  It  was  with  mingled  feel- 
ings of  friendship,  Christian  love,  and  gratitude, 
that  Mr.  Lafleur  led  into  the  water  one  with  whom 
he  had  held  sweet  communion,  with  whom  he  had 
studied  on  another  Continent,  and  in  whom  he  now 
finds  a  fellow-laborer. 

Until  1850  the  education  of  Canadian  girls  had 
been  limited  to  a  few,  received  at  the  Grande  Ligne 
institution,  which  was  mostly  designed  for  the 
other  sex.  It  was  seen  then  that  a  separate  school, 
and  more  systematic  teaching  was  exceedingly 
desirable.  It  was  consequently  resolved  that  an 
institution  of  this  kind  should  be  established  at  St. 
Pie.  This  School  was  opened  in  the  Fall  under  the 
superintendence  of  Mademoiselle  Jonte,  assisted 
by  Miss  Boardman,  a  young  American  lady,  con- 
verted while  studying  French  at  Grande  Ligne. 
This  institution  has  been  very  successful,  and  one 


/  , 


/     I 


128 


HISTORY   OF   THE 


i^ 


year's  trial  warrants  the  belief  that  it  is  destined 
to  do  a  good  work. 

]\Ir.  Tretreau,  formerly  a  Tlomaii  priest,  and  now 
a  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  besides  assisting  Mr.  La- 
fleur  in  the  work  of  evangelization  at  St.  V'lQ  and 
Salem,  has  the  charge  of  the  primary  school  of  tho 
former  place.  Ilis  superior  qualifications  will  enable 
him  to  raise  the  standard  of  study  in  his  school, 
and   draw   a  large   number  of   scholars. 

A  new  school,  under  the  superintendence  of  tho 
minister  of  St.  Pie,  will  be  opened  at  the  ^^  Ameri- 
ican  Village,"  two  miles  distant  from  the  Mis- 
sionary Station.  English  Protestants  have  united 
with  French  Protestants  to  establish  a  school  sepa- 
rate from*  the  Catholics,  in  order  to  insure  a 
Christian  influence  in  the  classes  by  the  reading  of 
the  Scriptures.  The  schoolmaster  is  a  pious  young 
man,  formerly  a  pupil  of  the  Grande  Ligne  Institute. 
Catholic  parents  have  promised  to  send  their  chil- 
dren to  our  new  school ;  the  Catholic  one,  they  say 
is  worse  than  nothing. 

Mr.  lliendeau,  whose  labors  as  an  evangelist  have 
been  blessed  in  Salem  district,  having  been  called 
to  Grande  Ligne  in  1851  to  help  Mr.  Normandeau 
in  the  educational  department,  Mr.  Lafleur  and 
Mr.  Tetreau  took  charge  of  his  place.  It  being  de- 
cided in  1852,  that  Mr.  Eiendeau  should  enter  tho 


„ 


n 


\ 


GRANDE-LIGNE    MISSION. 


120 


J 


University  tat  llochestor,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  I3orit  bccauio 
bis  pucecssor  at  the  Grande  Ligne. 

This  (.IqKirtniont  of  our  missionary  operations  is 
now  in  a  jjrosperous  state,  contributing  its  jtiirt  to 
the  advancement  of  the  great  work.  At  tho 
Grande  Ligno  Institute,  26  pupils  have  pursued 
their  studies  under  llev.  L.  : '')rmandeau,  the  Prin- 
cipal, and  Messrs.  C.  Roux  and  T.  Kiendeau,  licen- 
tiates and  teachers,  and  liave  made  considerable 
progress.  Some  of  those  boys  and  young  men 
show  a  good  deal  of  talent,  and  promise  -to  be  very 
useful  in  their  respective  callings.  The  number  of 
scholars  is  now  about  30. 

The  Girls*  School  at  St.  Pie  contains  at  present 
20  scholars,  and  is  becoming  more  and  more  useful 
and  interesting. 

Besides  these  two  institutions,  eight  primary 
schools  have  been  in  operation  during  the  past 
year,  furnishing  an  instruction  in  the  elementary 
branches  of  education,  pervaded  by  the  spirit  of 
Christianity,  to  more  than  two  hundred  children. 

Mention  must  also  be  made  of  the  Mission  Press, 
established  through  the  efforts  of  friends  at  the  be- 
ginning of  1851,  as  its  operations,  though  inde- 
pendent of  the  Mission,  are  carried,  on  under  its 
auspices,  and  are  designed  to  cooperate  in  the  same 
cause.  A  periodical  was  started  under  the  title  of 
Lc   Semeur    Cauadienj    (The   Canadian    Sower,) 


130 


HISTORY   OF   THE 


which  has  met  already  with  considerabl :  success,  in 
spite  of  the  opposition  of  the  Romish  clergy,,  who 
are  doing  all  they  can  to  prevent  its  circulation. 
Through  this  paper,  and  tracts  and  pamphlets  iesued 
at  its  office,  we  can  reach  a  goodly  number  of 
French  Canadians  of  the  educated  class,  hitherto 
inaccessible  to  the  teachings  of  the  Gospel.  In 
presence  of  the  success  attending  this  effort,  and  in 
view  of  the  good  to  be  done,  the  editor,  Mr.  Cyr, 
trusting  to  God,  has  decided  to  issue  the  Semeur 
weekly,  and  remove  it  to  Montreal,  where  it  is 
to  be  hoped,  it  will  be  still  more  productive  of  good. 
It  goes  already  into  more  than  a  hundred  different 
places,  and  is  read  by  at  least  five  hundred  French 
Canadians  of  the  educated  class.  Our  aim  is  to 
introduce  it  into  all  the  parishes  of  Lower  Canada, 
where  French  readers  are  to  be  found.  It  is  the 
only  Evangelical  paper  in  the  French  lang-uage  now 
printed  on  the  Continent  of  North  America.  We 
have  reason  to  believe  th.^t  the  Press,  this  great  in- 
strumentality of  modern  times,  will  do  its  part, 
uoder  the  blessing  of  God,  towards  the  evangeliza- 
tion of  Canada. 


X. 

Madame  Feller  and  Mr.  Roussy  came  to  Canada 
under  the  patronage  of  a  Missionary  Society  in 
Switzerland;  from  which  Society  they  continued  for 


GRAND  LIGXE   MISSION. 


131 


a  time  to  receive  occasional  aid.  During  the  years 
1837  and  1838  their  operations  were  carried  on 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Canada  Baptist  Mission- 
ary Society;  some  assistance  was  also  received  from 
the  United  States  and  from  Scotland.  In  the  au- 
tumn of  the  last  mentioned  year  their  connexion 
with  the  Canada  Baptist  Missionary  Society  was 
dissolved,  the  missionaries  being  then  of  opinion 
that  they  could  labor  more  efficiently  if  they  were 
independent  of  all  religious  parties.  They  conti- 
nued to  do  so  for  nearly  seven  years,  during  which 
time  they  received  numerous  and  valuable  tokens  of 
Christian  regard  from  all  denominations.  The  fos- 
tering care  of  the  Foreign  Evangelical  Society  ren- 
dered essential  service  to  the  cause.  Pecuniary  grants, 
varying  froln  550  to  1200  dollars,  were  received  an- 
nually from  that  Society.  Besides  this,  the  patronage 
of  the  Society  stimulated  the  zeal  of  Christians, 
and  encouraged  the  formation  of  numerous  Ladies' 
Associations,  which  raised  considerable  sums  of 
money,  and  otherwise  assisted  the  mission.  Aid 
was  also  received  from  Switzerland,  England,  and 
Canada.  The  funds  annually  realized  from  all  these 
sources  gradually  increased  from  1,800  to  5,000 
dollars,  more  than  three-fourths  of  which  were  fur- 
nished by  friends  in  the  United  States. 

In  the  autumn  of  1845,  proposals  were  made  to 
enter   into  a  more   definite  and   more  permanent 


132 


HISTORY  OF   THE 


arrangement  with  tlie  Foreign  Evangelical  Society. 
That  arrangement  was  not  found  practicable.  After 
much  deliberation  and  prayer,  the  Missionaries  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  their  operations  could  no 
longer  be  conducted  on  the  plan  which  had  been 
pursued  for  several  years  past,  and  a  re-union  with 
the  Canada  Baptist  Missionary  Society  was  effected. 

The  management  of  the  aifairs  of  the  Mission 
was  intrusted  to  a  Committee,  consisting  of  four 
members  of  the  Committee  of  this  Society,  and 
four  members  belonging  to  Grand  Ligne. 

The  Canada  Baptist  Missionary  Society  proceeded 
to  make  such  grants  for  the  Mission,  as  its  means 
allowed,  and  these  grants,  with  contributions  from 
American  Baptists,  secured  by  the  annual  visits  of 
Madame  Feller  and  Dr.  Cote,  and  the  continued  bene- 
ficence of  steadfast  Pedobaptist  friends,  have  from 
that  time  formed  its  resources.  But  unhappily  the 
Canada  Baptist  Missionary  Society,  notwithstanding 
the  generous  contributions  of  some  of  its  members, 
became  unable  in  1848,  from  a  variety  of  causes, 
to  render  the  usual  assistance  to  the  Mission. 

It  was  then  thought  that  the  American  Baptist 
Home  Mission  Society,  whose  seat  of  operations  is 
in  New  York,  would  be  the  means  that  God  designed 
to  employ  to  support  the  Grande  Ligne  ^Mission. 
But  the  Constitution  of  this  society  did  not  per- 
mit its  Committee  to  embrace  the  entire  work.  All 


^;- 


-W 


GRAND  LIGNE  MISSION. 


133 


I 

! 


<^ 


it  could  do  was  to  grant  salaries  to  the  ministers 
and  licentiates,  an  aid  wliich  was  received  with  gra- 
titude, and  that  covers  about  a  third  of  all  the  ex- 
penses. For  the  other  branches  of  the  work,  that 
is,  for  the  Institution  of  Grande  Ligne,  the  Girls' 
School  at  St.  Pie,  the  Primary  Schools  and  the  Col- 
porteurs, the  Mission  is  dependent  upon  the  libe- 
rality of  those  Christians  who  take  an  interest  in 
the  spiritual  welfare  of  this  benighted  country. 

CONCLUSION. 

Such  is  the  Grande  Ligne  Mission  enterprise; 
such  its  origin,  its  progress ;  such  the  blessings  that 
have  rested  upon  it.  In  the  short  period  of  fifteen 
years  it  has  been  instrumental  in  bringing  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  Redeemer  some  four  hundred 
French  Canadians — a  result  the  more  cheering  and 
encouraging  as  the  mass  of  this  people  had  been  for 
two  centuries  in  ignorance,  superstition  and  dark- 
ness. Even  in  their  agricultural  operations  there 
was  not  thought  and  enterprise  enough  among  them 
to  induce  the  adoption  of  the  most  obvious  and 
easy  improvements  : — ancient  and  slovenly  modes  of 
husbandry,  old  and  inconvenient  implements  were 
pertinaciously  retained.  Education  was  entirely 
neglected,  so  that  in  large  districts  of  country,  but 
here  and  there  a  solitary  individual  among  the 
-  '^  hahitans^^  (farmers,)  was  able  even  to  read. 

12 


134 


HISTORY   OF   THE 


But  this  state  of  things  lias  begun  to  pass  away. 
In  regard  to  agriculture,  education,  enterprise  and 
free  inquiry,  great  changes  for  the  best  have  taken 
place,  and  will  be  favorable  under  the  blessing  of 
God  to  the  advancement  of  his  cause.  Light  has 
dawned  upon  this  benighted  land,  and  Christians 
can  confidently  hope  that  the  fiuits  already  ga- 
thered are  only  the  earncf^t  of  a  great  harvest. 

Now  embracing  a  field  of  2750  square  miles,  the 
Grande  Ligne  Mission  enterprise  is  arduous  and 
important;  involving  solemn  responsibilities;  re- 
quiring great  faith ;  often  calling  into  exercise 
qualities  seemingly  incompatible — simplicity  and 
prudence — affection  and  firmness — calm  considera- 
tion and  ardent  zeal ;  and  withal  so  conducted  and 
controlled,  in  the  wisdom  of  God,  as  that,  while 
extraordinary  success  has  accompanied  the  endea- 
vors of  his  servants,  for  which  they  cannot  be  suffi- 
ciently grateful,  they  have  been  continually  re- 
minded of  their  absolute  dependence  on  his  provi- 
dence and  grace,  and  taught,  not  without  painful 
experience,  that  it  is  God  who  "  worketh  all  in  all.'' 

The  providence  of  God  has  thus  opened  a  wide 
and  effectual  door  in  Canada,  and  He  calls  upon  his 
children  to  exert  themselves  more  and  more  to 
spread  the  truth  and  cause  the  light  to  shine. 

The  French  population  in  Lower  Canada  is  now 
about  700,000,  and  they  are  all  Catholics  except 


+ 


GRANDE   LIGNE   MISSION. 


135 


* 


?ept 


those  that  liavo  been  brought  to  the  kno^vleclge  of 
the  Gospel  within  fifteen  years.  Education  is  be- 
ginning to  be  prized,  and  reading  to  become  a 
habit,  among  them.  Where  one  newspaper  was 
taken  fifteen  years  ago,  there  are  now  more  than 
ten.     It  is  an  encouraging  sign. 

Until  two  or  three  years  ago  the  whole  French 
Canadian  Press  was  dev^  ted  more  or  less  to  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  clergy.  Noyr  two  papers  boldly  op- 
pose the  clergy,  and  tell  them  some  of  the  hardest 
truths.  The  editors,  like  Dr.  Cote  formerly,  have 
become  disgusted  with  Popery,  and  yet  are  in  dan- 
ger of  confoundirg  it  with  Christianity.  Happily, 
such  men  can  now  be  reached  by  means  of  the 
evangelical  little  weekly  sheet,  called  Le  Semeur 
CanacUerij  or  the  Canadian  Sower. 

In  casting  a  glance  upon  what  has  been  accom- 
plished in  our  missionary  field  during  the  past  year, 
we  feel  compelled  to  pour  forth  our  gratitude  before 
the  throne  of  our  great  Head,  thanking  him  for  the 
success  granted  to  his  feeble  instruments. 

Behold,  a  church  under  construction  at  St.  Mary ; 
the  house  at  St.  Pie  enlarged  sufficiently  to  accom- 
modate twenty  pupils ;  a  Society  formed  at  Grande 
Ligne  for  the  purpose  of  sustaining  the  Mission ; 
nineteen  persons  baptized  and  united  with  the 
churches  in  the  difierent  stations;  a  number  of 
Romish  families  brought  under  the  influence  of  the 


!l 


136 


HISTORY   OF   THE 


"I     ti 


Truth ;  a  new  field  open  at  Granby,  and  promising  to 
be  fertile ;  the  establishment  of  a  religious  paper  in 
the  French  language  which  disseminates  the  Truth 
among  the  higher  classes  of  Canadian  society ;  these 
are  visible  effects  of  the  blessing  that  God  has 
poured  out  upon  the  Grande  Ligne  Mission. 

Yes,  God  blesses  our  field,  and  he  will  continue 
to  bless  it.  Many  doors  are  opened ;  ihe  influence 
of  the  priests  diminishes  rapidly;  they  are  daily 
losing  ground,  and  beating  a  retreat;  numerous 
appeals  come  to  us  from  divers  places,  but  our  fee- 
ble band  is  already  overworked.  Even  now  we 
need  six  more  ministers,  and  a  greater  number  of 
colportours.  The  harvest  is  great  and  ripe,  but 
there  are  few  laborers ;  let  us  then  pray  the  Lord 
of  the  harvest  to  send  us  more,  and  to  sustain  with 
his  Spirit  from  on  high  those  who  are  already  en- 
gaged in  the  blessed  work. 

Among  the  signal  benefits  of  our  God,  the  past 
vear,  we  would  not  fail  to  acknowledo^e  the  warm 
sympathy  that  he  has  excited  for  us  in  the  hearts 
of  many  of  his  children;  a  sympathy  which  has 
not  alone  consisted  in  words  but  in  deeds.  After 
having  thanked  God,  who  has  inspired  such  senti- 
ments, it  is  to  us  an  agreeable  duty  to  thank  them 
cordially  for  their  generous  aid.  "VVe  beg  the  Ame- 
rican Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  we  beg  the 
Ladies'  Societies  formed  in  aid  of  the  Grande  Ligne 


GRANDE  LIGNE   MISSION. 


137 


h 


he 
no 


Mission,  we  beg  all  those  Christians  who  have  con- 
tributed to  the  support  of  the  Mission  to  accept  the 
most  sincere  assurance  of  our  gratitude. 

In  April,  1852,  Madame  Feller  writes: — "You 
will  learn  with  pleasure  that  we  are  blessed  in  our 
work,  more  than  we  have  been.  The  good  and 
powerful  hand  of  our  God  is  ever  busy  in  preparing 
new  ways  and  opening  new  doors,  where  the  happy 
missionaries  may  penetrate  with  the  Gospel.''  In 
July  she  gratefully  announced  that  the  Mission  was 
free  from  debt.  At  the  same  time  the  Mission  was 
strengthened  by  the  arrival  of  Mr.  J.  Laborde,  a 
colporteur  from  France,  driven  thence  by  the  revi- 
ving influence  of  the  Jesuits  in  the  government  of 
that  unhappy  country.  Mr.  L.  seems  to  combine 
strength  of  purpose,  with  simplicity  and  piety. 
Thus  by  destroying  religious  liberty  Louis  Napo- 
leon, without  knowing  or  desiring  it,  contributes  to 
the  evangelization  of  Canada. 

The  influence  of  Truth  is  more  and  more  felt;  it  is 
communicated  from  relatives  to  relatives,  from  friends 
to  friends,  and  is  becoming  the  general  subject  of 
conversation — rparticula  ly  at  St.  Mary's,  where  the 
new  and  beautiful  chapel  has  been  advancing  to 
completion.  It  was  recently  opened  for  public 
worship,  under  interesting  circumstances.  A  new 
field  of  usefulness,  also,  has  just  been  added  at  St. 
Isidore,  40  mil^s  west  of  Grande  Ligne. 

12* 


138 


GRANDE  LIGNE   MISSION. 


Let  the  Preacher,  the  Teacher,  the  Colporteur, 
and  the  Evangelical  Press  he  sustained,  and,  with 
God's  favor,  Canada  East  will  he  enlightened,  ele- 
vated, and  in  due  time  enjoy  all  the  various  bless- 
ings of  true  religion.  The  wilderness  and  the  soli- 
tary  place  shall  he  glad  for  them,  and  the  desert 
shall  rejoice  and  blossom  as  the  rose. 


th 
le- 

ss- 

zrt 


APPENDIX. 


DEDICATION  OF  THE  PROTESTANT 
CHAPEL  AT  ST.  MARY. 

On  the  twenty-second  day  of  September,  1852, 
we  dedicated  to  the  service  of  God  the  first  build- 
ing in  our  Mission  exclusively  devoted  to  public 
religious  meetings.  It  appeared  to  us  as  a  new  era 
in  the  history  of  our  Mission,  for  although  we  have 
other  places  of  worship  that  wc  call  chapels,  thoy 
are  but  large  rooms  in  our  missionary  bouses  set 
apart  for  schools,  as  well  as  for  public  religious 
meetings.  The  weather  was  not  very  favorable  for 
the  occasion,  it  being  a  co-^  and  shov/ery  day,  and 
the  roads  not  inviting  either;  still  we  had  the 
greatest  gathering  of  French  Canadian  Protestants 
we  have  had  since  the  beginning  of  the  mission. 
We  could  not  but  compare  this  dedication  with 
that  of  the  Grande-Ligue  Mission  House,  and  bless 
and  adore  our  divine  Redeemer  for  the  almost  in- 
credible transformation  wrought  among  us,  during 

139 


140 


ArPENDIX. 


it'i 


li 


the  lapse  of  twelve  years.  Twelve  years  ago  tlio 
Grande-Ligne  Chapel  was  filled  chiefly  by  our 
English  and  Anglo-American  friends,  who  were 
hailing  with  joy  the  opening  of  a  new  field,  full 
of  promise ;  to-day  a  much  larger  chapel  is  filled 
mainly  by  French  Canadians,  who  have  been 
brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Gosjwl  and  of 
Jesus  by  the  labors  of  the  missionaries.  Then  the 
gathering  of  our  friends  from  abroad  and  of  an- 
other language,  ''ather  strengthened  the  idea  held 
among  the  Roman  Catholics,  that  the  religion 
preached  by  the  missionaries  was  a  foreign  reli- 
gion, r^ood  enough  perhaps  for  English  people,  but 
altogether  useless  and  pernicious  to  the  French; 
but  now  they  must  be  convinced  that  Protestantism 
has  become  a  French  Canadian  thing ;  for  it  has 
taken  root  in  the  midst  of  an  entirely  French  popu- 
lation, and  has  already  ramifications  in  an  immense 
number  of  families.  Twelve  years  ago,  the  minis- 
ters who  filled  the  pulpit  and  addressed  the  people 
on  the  occasion  were  all,  without  exception,  of 
foreign  origin,  and  only  two  or  three  of  them 
speaking  the  French  lan>;;uage ;  to-day,  of  the  six 
ministers  present,  five  of  them  were  missionaries 
in  the  field  speaking  the  French  langup^e,  and 
three  of  the  last  named  were  French  Canadians  by 
birth  and  education.  One  of  them  formerly  a 
priest  in  the  Roman  Catholic  church  of  his  coun- 


., 


Ill 


APPENDIX. 


141 


try.  The  two  others  were  present,  it  is  true,  at 
the  first  dedication  at  Grande-Ligne,  but  more 
from  curiosity  than  any  thing  else ;  for  on  their 
return  home  after  the  services  of  the  day,  they 
strengthened  each  other  in  their  religious  views, 
by  saying  ^:hat  after  all  the  lloman  Catholic  reli- 
gion was  tiic  first  religion,  and  consequently  tho 
best.  But  God  in  his  own  good  time  showed  them 
by  a  nevei  to  be  forgotten  experience  where  the 
better  relig  on  was  found.  There  was  on  this  day 
of  dedication,  "  a  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory" 
in  many  hearts,  at  the  remembrance  of  God's  deal- 
ings towards  us. 

Three  services  were  held  on  the  same  day.  At 
the  two  first,  the  house  was  quite  full,  making  an 
audience  of  about  three  hundred  persons.  The 
dedication  sermon  was  preached  in  the  morning 
by  Rev.  L.  Normandeau  from  the  words  of  the 
inscription  on  the  front  of  the  chapel :  "  Preach  the 
Gospel  to  all  nations.''  The  discourse  was  very 
appropriate  and  very  impressive,  especially  when 
recalling  what  the  first  missionary  in  this  field 
had  to  encounter  and  to  suifer,  whi  n  he  began  to 
preach  the  Gospel  to  the  French  Canadian  popula- 
tion, which,  although  nominally  Christian,  was  a 
stranger  to  the  Good  News  of  a  free  redemption 
by  the  sacrifice  of  Christ.  And  to  call  a  new 
nation  to  the  kingdom  of  God,  our  beloved  brother 


f 


142 


Ari'KNDIX. 


had  chosen  Canadfi  as  the  place  where  to  ohoy  tho 
eoininand  of  his  Master.  AVliat  sii])ject  of  encou- 
ra<!;eim'nt  and  gratitude  for  liini  who  is  to  fill  this 
nt.'W  piili)it,  among  those  who  call  themselves  his 
children  !  In  the  evening,  another  discourse  was 
preached  by  the  llev.  T.  Laflcmr  on  the  words  of 
Christ  to  Peter :  "Thou  art  Peter,  and  upon  this 
rock  I  will  build  my  church."  A  great  number 
of  lloman  Catholics  had  been  invited  to  attend  the 
meetings,  and  although  desirous  to  come  and  see, 
and  even  having  promised  to  do  so,  but  a  small 
number  was  present.  The  priest  had  exerted  him- 
self enough  to  prevent  them,  by  saying  that  such 
curiosity  would  not  be  guiltless. 

The  building  is  of  brick,  52  feet  in  length  by 
8G  in  width,  with  a  steeple  not  yet  finished.  It 
is  very  neat,  simple  and  pretty.  Pleasantly  situ- 
ated on  a  fine  piece  of  meadow  given  by  a  French 
Canadian  convert  for  church  and  grave  yard.  The 
whole  is  surrounded  by  beautiful  elm  trees,  and  the 
back  part- of  the  lot  is  separated  from  the  neigh- 
bors by  a  small  brook  bordered  by  small  bushes. 
The  chapel  is  the  last  house  of  the  village  towardc 
the  south,  and  the  view  from  the  front  is  very 
pleasing  as  it  rests  on  three  or  four  surround- 
ing mountains,  or  rather  hills,  isolated  in  a  flat 
country. 

Although  very  happy  to  see  that  the  house  was 


ArPENDIX. 


143 


fil]c<I  mostly  })y  Frendi  Caniulian  cnnvortf?,  wo 
were  sorry  that  n  greiitcr  number  of  our  American 
Christian  friends  were  not  present  to  convince 
tlieinselves  that  their  prayers  ha<l  lieen  answered, 
and  tlieir  donations  sown  in  fertile  soil.  We 
hope  that  they  will  feel  as  much  encouraged  in 
this  blessed  work  as  we  are  ourselves ;  that  they 
will  continue  to  help  us  to  build  the  church  of 
(Uirist  in  this  benighted  land,  and  before  long  wc 
shall  speak  to  them  again  of  other  chapels  erected 
to  preach  the  Gospel  without  tradition,  of  houses 
that  arc  for  many  the  door  of  heaven.  New  fields 
are  white  and  open  before  us;  they  require  the 
efforts  of  the  missionary,  and  the  liberality  of  the 
Christian.  May  our  Lord  himself  grant  us  his 
Spirit,  that  we  may  gather  together  new  and  im- 
mortal materials  for  Lis  church  and  for  our  eternal 
happiness. —  Grande-Lifjne  Mission  Rcgisterj  Oct. 
1852. 

A  YOUNa  MAN  LED  TO  THE  BIBLE. 


An  intelligent  young  man  called  one  day  on  one 
of  the  missionaries,  asking  for  a  religious  book  he 
had  seen  and  wished  much  to  read.  The  mission- 
ary had  not  then  the  work  desired,  but  he  promised 
to  procure  it  for  him,  and  offered  him  in  the  mean- 
time other  publications  which  he  thought  might  be 


APPENDIX. 

V        The  voung  man  took  "Baxter's 
interesting  to  him.    i  he  J      h  ^  ^^^  ^^. 

had  been  -«*  P^'^'^^^ar^f  Kble.  Having  met 
now  be  -'^^^^^X^tltis  hlesscd  volume,  he 
with  many  quotations  ir  ^^^  missionary  was 

was  desirous  of  possessing  ^^  ^^  ^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^ 

very  happy  to  see  tiiat  the jca      g        .^  ^.^  ^^^^^^ 
periodical  had  awakened  ^^*  ^j,, 

and  sold  him  a  copy  of  the  bcri^ 
Father  of  lig^s  ^o;  —   ,^;::,  ,,  tim  lately, 
has  been  answered  ;  ^H^^^yli^t.  of  mind.  He 
,e  found  him  in  tbe^-  ^;^J,  ^,,  ,  .^e  d^re 
appears  to  read  the  Wora  ^^.^^^^  ^^^^^ 

J\nowing  tl^e  -y     .  ^^^^^^^^  his  heart.    He  is 
the  Holy  Spmt  i^,™^,;, 

,ery  near  the  ^-^21^0  is  a  Catholic  one,  his 
As  his  version  of  i^.^      ^^^  ^^^  ^.^.^  ,    ,1,0 
wife  reads  it  w  th  mte  cs  ^^^  ^^  ^._^  ^.ighbors  is 
beaming  upon  her  sou^  ^^^^  ^^^_ 

also  reading  bis  ^^^^^  '  ^^^  ^^  ,3  ti,e  place  in  which 
This  is  the  more  intes^ing^^^^^^^^^^  ^^  ^^^^^ 

,bey  live  is  -^^^^^fUerto  inaccessible  to 

Catholics,  and  has  been 

the  Gospel-iWci-       ^^^      • 


Baxter's 
wnum- 
Semeur 

L  said  lie 
Diis,  and 
Ying  met 
,lume,  be 
inary  was 
books  and 
his  heart, 
aying  the 
ais  prayer 
lim  lately, 
mind.  He 
true  desire 
,vident  that 
art.     He  is 

3lic  one,  to 
ight  is  also 
neiglibors  is 
very  good, 
lace  in  which 
1  by  Roman 
^accessible  to 


